96 Background: To investigate the impact of 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) usage on radiotherapy outcomes for localized prostate cancer. Methods: From our institutional database of over 2500 patients, we identified 203 patients on a 5-ARI. They were all treated with either external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) or brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer. Patients receiving a 5-ARI were analyzed according to the following prostate cancer progression criteria: a) progression of Gleason score or increase in cancer volume on the biopsy, b) first biopsy positive for cancer after being treated for urinary symptoms with a 5-ARI, and c) prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression with or without a previous cancer diagnosis. Biochemical failure (BF) was defined by the Phoenix definition. Log-rank test was used for survival analysis. Results: At a median follow-up of 36 months (interquartile range [IQR] 22-52 months), 10 (4.9%) patients experienced BF. 52% of men demonstrated none of the progression criteria, 37% showed only one prostate cancer progression criteria and 11% showed two. Using a univariate analysis, PSA progression (p = 0.004) and appearance of a positive biopsy (p < 0.001) but not Gleason progression (p = 0.3) were a significant predictive factor of BF. With separate multivariate analysis adjusted for the CAPRA score (HR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2-2.3, p = 0.003), a rising PSA (HR 5.7, 95% CI 1.1-28.8, p = 0.04) and the number of cancer progression factors (HR 2.9, 95%CI 1.2-7.0, p = 0.02) remained adverse risk factors. Both Gleason score progression (p = 0.4) and first biopsy positive for cancer (p = 0.13) failed to remain significant. Age and obesity were not significant factors in univariate or multivariate analysis. Conclusions: A PSA progression experienced while under 5-ARI treatment before EBRT or brachytherapy is predictive of worse biochemical outcome. Such details should be considered when counseling men prior to radiation therapy.
PSA progression experienced during 5‑ARI treatment before radiotherapy is predictive of worse biochemical outcome. Such details should be considered when counseling men prior to radiation therapy.
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