American Society for Radiation Oncology annual meeting 2009 briefs

Short-term hormone therapy given prior to and during intermediate dose radiation treatment for men with early stage prostate cancer increases their chance of living longer, compared to those who receive radiation alone. The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group randomised study examined 2000 men with early stage prostate cancer and a PSA less ≤ to 20 for an average of nine years. More men who received the hormone therapy lived longer, and also showed better results in disease-free survival, freedom from biochemical failure, and positive two year re-biopsy. However, nearly all survival benefit was in the intermediate, rather than low-risk group....