Salvage radiotherapy for palpable, locally recurrent prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy

Purpose A retrospective study to evaluate the outcome of salvage radiotherapy (RT) for clinically apparent, palpable prostate cancer recurrence after radical prostatectomy (RP). Methods and materials Forty-two patients underwent RT for clinically apparent recurrent prostate cancer after RP between 1993 and 1999. The end points and treatment variables of biochemical disease-free survival were evaluated statistically. Results The median follow-up was 4.3 years. All 42 patients experienced resolution of clinically detectable recurrence within 1 year after RT. The 5-year biochemical disease-free survival, local control, freedom from distant metastases, and overall survival rate was 27%, 94%, 82%, and 78%, respectively. The initial pathologic stage (T3 or T4; p = 0.04) and interval (<2 years from RP to RT; p = 0.01) were independent predictors of biochemical failure, and RT simulation without contrast (p = 0.05) was nearly significant on multivariate analysis. Three patients (7%) experienced chronic Grade 3 or 4 RT-related toxicity. Conclusion Salvage prostate bed RT for clinically apparent locally recurrent prostate cancer after RP provides effective local tumor control with modest durable biochemical control. Patients irradiated with a better simulation technique were found to have a more favorable outcome. A consensus on a definition of biochemical disease-free survival after salvage RT is critical for meaningful comparison of the available data and to future progress in treating this disease process.