Ultra-Hypofractionated Radiotherapy Noninferior for Prostate Cancer
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, May 8, 2025 -- Ultra-hypofractionated (UHF) radiotherapy delivered over two weeks is noninferior to conventionally fractionated (CF) radiotherapy delivered over eight weeks for localized prostate cancer up to 10 years, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology, held from May 2 to 6 in Vienna.
Per Nilsson, Ph.D., from Skåne University Hospital in Lund, Sweden, and colleagues presented the 10-year efficacy and toxicity outcomes for UHF versus CF radiotherapy for men with intermediate- to high-risk localized prostate cancer. The per-protocol population included 1,180 men who were randomly assigned to UHF (42.7 Gy in seven fractions over 2.5 weeks) or CF radiotherapy (78.0 Gy in 39 fractions over eight weeks).
The researchers found that 178 and 205 primary outcome events (failure-free survival [FFS]) occurred in the UHF and CF groups, respectively, at a median follow-up of 10.6 years. For FFS, the adjusted hazard ratio was 0.84 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.69 to 1.03), confirming noninferiority. Up to approximately six years, the Kaplan-Meier curves were similar, after which they diverged, favoring UHF. At 10 years, the difference was significant. The two groups had similar overall survival, which was 81 and 79 percent in the UHF and CF groups, respectively, at 10 years. The cumulative incidence of prostate cancer-specific death was identical, at 4 percent at 10 years. Freedom from androgen-deprivation therapy did not differ significantly between the groups and was 77 and 75 percent in the UHF and CF groups, respectively, at 10 years. There were no statistically significant differences in late genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicity between the groups.
"Delivering fewer, higher doses over a shorter period works just as well as the standard approach -- not just in theory, but in real-world clinical practice," Nilsson said in a statement.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted May 2025
Read this next
MicroRNA-Based Germline Signature Predicts RT-Induced Genitourinary Toxicity in Prostate Cancer
FRIDAY, April 18, 2025 -- A biomarker consisting primarily of microRNA-based germline biomarkers (mirSNPs), PROSTOX, is valid for predicting radiotherapy (RT)-induced...
CT Exams in 2023 Projected to Result in 103,000 Future Cancers
THURSDAY, April 17, 2025 -- At current utilization and radiation dose levels, computed tomography (CT) examinations in 2023 were projected to result in about 103,000 future...
Prostate Cancer Screening Program Beneficial in Top Decile of Polygenic Risk Score
MONDAY, April 14, 2025 -- A prostate cancer screening program involving participants in the top decile of risk according to a polygenic risk score identifies clinically...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.