The Lancet: New combination therapy could help prolong the lives of prostate cancer patients

A practice-changing study from Cedars-Sinai Cancer showed that androgen deprivation therapy (a commonly used hormone injection), combined with radiation to pelvic lymph nodes, brought prostate cancer under 5-year control in nearly 90 percent of clinical trial patien.

The study also showed that men with prostate cancer who did not receive androgen deprivation therapy -- and those who did not receive radiation to pelvic lymph nodes -- had a 70 percent five-year survival ra.

"We can now confirm that pelvic lymph node therapy, used in conjunction with androgen deprivation therapy, or even as a sole treatment option, greatly improves outcomes for patients after prostate cancer surgery," said Howard Sandler, MD, PhD, Cedars-Sinai Cancer Chair of the Center's Department of Radiation Oncology and senior author of the stu.

The international phase III clinical trial, which was the basis for the Lancet study, enrolled 1,716 patients between March 31, 2008, and March 30, 201 Participants were divided into three grou.

The first group received salvage prostate bed radiation therapy, a standard radiation therapy to the area of ​​the prostate that had been present before surgical resecti.

The second group received standard radiation therapy combined with androgen deprivation thera.

The third group received salvage prostate bed radiotherapy, androgen deprivation therapy, and pelvic lymph node radiothera.

"The integrative approach proved to be the most beneficial," said Sandler, who is also the Ronald.

Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in the United States, affecting 1 in 6 to 7 m.

Many men diagnosed with prostate cancer undergo a prostatectomy - surgery to remove the prosta.

Men undergoing prostate cancer surgery may have good outcomes, especially if radiation therapy is given early, when PSA levels are lowest, and combined with proven therapy, as the new study suggests, Sandler sa.

"Improving and prolonging life is at the heart of everything we do at Cedas-sinai Cancer," said Dan Theodorescu, MD, director of Cedas-sinai Cancer, Phase I Foundation Contributing Chair and Professor of Surgery, Pathology and Laboratory Medici.