Indications of the association of radiotherapy and hormonal treatment in prostate cancer

RTOG and EORTC randomized phase III trials investigated combination of radiation therapy and hormonal treatment in locally advanced prostate cancer T2c-T4 N0-1 M0 (UICC 2002). Complete androgen blockade initiated 2 months prior to starting radiotherapy and stopped at the completion of radiotherapy vs radiation therapy alone, increased overall survival in patients with Gleason score 2-6. Adjuvant androgen suppression started at the end of the radiotherapy and continued indefinitely improved significantly overall survival of patients Gleason score 8 to 10. Complete androgen blockade in two months before and two months during radiation followed by 24 additional months of LHRH analogue alone improved overall survival of patients Gleason score 8 0 with respect to CAB alone. EORTC trial 22861 has shown that androgen suppression with LHRH analogue given during and for 3 years after external irradiation improved overall survival whatever the Gleason score. The role of hormonal treatment is currently assessed in localized prostate cancer (T1-2 N0) with poor prognostic factors: Gleason score 8-10, PSA > 20 ng/ml. (author)