Prostate cancer recurrence after radical prostatectomy and salvage radiotherapy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of the radiotherapy to prostatic bed in patients with biochemical recurrence for prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyse the results of 292 patients underwent radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer T1-T2 between January 1992 and June 2003, with an average folow-up of 36 months (range 6 months to 12 years). We detect biochemical recurrence (PSA >0.20 ng/ml) in 75 (26%) patients. Of 75 patients with biochemical recurrence, 9 (12%) was diagnosed of local recurrence by the following criteria: a) The first PSA obtained 6 weeks after radical prostatectomy 6 months. c) The prostate specific antigen doubling time >6 months. d) The prostate specific antigen velocity after radical prostatectomy <0.75 ng/ml/year. e) The prostate specific antigen level after radical prostatectomy <2.5 ng/ml. The 9 patients diagnosed of local recurrence received an average dose of 56.42 Gy in the prostate bed. RESULTS: Of all 9 patients with local recurrence, 7 (77.7%) has complete response with an average time of follow-up of 25 months (6-30 months). The time between the radiotherapy and the response, in patients with complete response, was lower than 3 months. Were not observed significant adverse effects associated to radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The salvage radiotherapy may be beneficial in select patients with local recurrence. The characteristics of prostate specific antigen elevation are useful in distinguishing men with local recurrence from those with distant metastases.