Each prostate-cancer treatment was associated with a distinct pattern of change in quality-of-life domains related to urinary, sexual, bowel, and hormonal function. These changes influenced satisfaction with treatment outcomes among patients and their spouses or partners.

Nearly half of patients with recurrent prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy have a long-term PSA response to SRT when treatment is administered at the earliest sign of recurrence. The nomogram we developed predicts the outcome of SRT and should prove valuable for medical decision making for patients with a rising PSA level.

Purpose This multi-disciplinary, evidence-based guideline for clinically non-metastatic muscle-invasive bladder cancer focuses on the evaluation, treatment, and surveillance of muscle-invasive bladder cancer guided toward curative intent. Materials and Methods A systematic review utilizing research from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) as well as additional supplementation by the authors and consultant methodologists was used to develop the guideline. Evidence-based statements were based on body of evidence strengths Grade A, B, or C and were designated as Strong, Moderate, and Conditional Recommendations with additional statements presented in the form of Clinical Principles or Expert Opinions. (Table 1) Results For the first time, for any type of malignancy, the American Urological Association (AUA), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), and the Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) have formulated an evidence-based guideline based on a risk-stratified clinical framework for the management of muscle-invasive urothelial bladder cancer. This document is designed to be used in conjunction with the associated treatment algorithm. Conclusions The intensity and scope of care for muscle-invasive bladder cancer should focus on the patient, disease, and treatment response characteristics. This guideline attempts to improve a clinician's ability to evaluate and treat each patient, but higher quality evidence in future trials will be essential to improve level of care for these patients.

In men with low-risk prostate cancer, the efficacy of 70 Gy in 28 fractions over 5.6 weeks is not inferior to 73.8 Gy in 41 fractions over 8.2 weeks, although an increase in late GI/genitourinary adverse events was observed in patients treated with H-RT.

This selection from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Bladder Cancer focuses on the clinical presentation and workup of suspected bladder cancer, treatment of non–muscle-invasive urothelial bladder cancer, and treatment of metastatic urothelial bladder cancer because important updates have recently been made to these sections. Some important updates include recommendations for optimal treatment of non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer in the event of a bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) shortage and details about biomarker testing for advanced or metastatic disease. The systemic therapy recommendations for second-line or subsequent therapies have also been revised. Treatment and management of muscle-invasive, nonmetastatic disease is covered in the complete version of the NCCN Guidelines for Bladder Cancer available at NCCN.org. Additional topics covered in the complete version include treatment of nonurothelial histologies and recommendations for nonbladder urinary tract cancers such as upper tract urothelial carcinoma, urothelial carcinoma of the prostate, and primary carcinoma of the urethra.

The results demonstrate that our mathematical framework and modest training cohorts successfully predict achievable OAR DVHs based on individual patient anatomy. The models correctly identified suboptimal plans that demonstrated further OAR sparing after replanning. This modeling technique requires no manual intervention except for appropriate selection of a training set with identical evaluation criteria. Clinical implementation is in progress to evaluate impact on real-time IMRT QC.

SMART is clinically deliverable and safe, allowing PTV dose escalation and/or simultaneous OAR sparing compared to non-adaptive abdominal SBRT.

The available dose/volume/outcome data for rectal injury were reviewed. The volume of rectum receiving ≥60Gy is consistently associated with the risk of Grade ≥2 rectal toxicity or rectal bleeding. Parameters for the Lyman-Kutcher-Burman normal tissue complication probability model from four clinical series are remarkably consistent, suggesting that high doses are predominant in determining the risk of toxicity. The best overall estimates (95% confidence interval) of the Lyman-Kutcher-Burman model parameters are n = 0.09 (0.04-0.14); m = 0.13 (0.10-0.17); and TD 50 = 76.9 (73.7-80.1) Gy. Most of the models of late radiation toxicity come from three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy dose-escalation studies of early-stage prostate cancer. It is possible that intensity-modulated radiotherapy or proton beam dose distributions require modification of these models because of the inherent differences in low and intermediate dose distributions. KeywordsRectum; Radiation injury; NTCP CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCEApproximately 300,000 patients undergo pelvic radiotherapy (RT) worldwide annually (1). Depending on the techniques and doses used, patients may experience a permanent change in their bowel habits. ENDPOINTSAcute rectal effects occur during or soon after RT and typically include softer or diarrhealike stools, pain, a sense of rectal distention with cramping, and frequency. Occasionally, superficial ulceration causes bleeding that may require endoscopic cauterization, treatment for anemia, or transfusion. Late injuries are usually clinically manifest within 3 to 4 years after RT and may include stricture, diminished rectal compliance, and decreasing storage capacity with resultant small/frequent bowel movements. Injury to the anal musculature can Rectal bleeding is usually self-limited, although some patients require medical management with anti-inflammatory suppositories, antibiotics, endoscopic coagulative therapies, or rarely surgical diversion. In patients with endoscopic rectal abnormalities after RT, the most likely diagnosis is RT effect, and biopsy should not be performed because this may lead to chronic infection, poor healing or ulceration.Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) scoring criteria are commonly used to report toxicity (2). The original system was criticized as being vague, nonquantitative, and unvalidated. It emphasizes rectal bleeding and stool frequency but not fecal incontinence or bowel urgency, both of which impact QOL. Because of its objectivity, the presence of any rectal bleeding has been the sole endpoint reported in some series. Interpreting the rate of RT-induced sequelae is complicated because many symptoms are nonspecific and may be related to conditions such as hemorrhoids or irritable bowel disorders.The Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0 is being used more often in prospective clinical trials (3). It provides more specific descriptions of common toxicities after cancer therapy and is more quantitative than the RTOG scoring criteria. CHALLENGES DEFINI...