TABLE IV.
Comparison of our quality-of-life (qol) results with those in other published studies
| Reference (study period) | rt technique | Pts (n) | Filled qol (n) | Receivedast(n) | Dose per fraction (Gy) | Total dose (Gy) | Pelvicrt | Assessment type and time point (months) | qolquestionnaire type | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kupelian et al., 2001 26 (1998–1999) |
imrt crt |
51 46 |
24 46 |
5 35 |
2.5 2.0 |
70 78 |
No | Cross-sectional Median: 24–27 (Range: 21–33) |
epic | No significant qol difference between the groups in terms of bowel, bladder, and sexual function |
| Namiki et al., 2006 27 (2000–2002) |
imrt xrt cort |
nr | 30 76 34 |
18 102 |
nr | 78 69.6 69.6 |
No | Longitudinal 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24 |
ucla pci SF-36 |
No difference in urinary function between groups at any time point. At 3 and 6 months, bowel function worse in xrt group than imrt group. At 3 months, sexual function lower after xrt, remaining substantially lower than baseline. No significant difference in sexual function from baseline to any other time point in the imrt group. At 18 months, sexual function better in imrt group than in xrt group. |
| Junius et al., 2007 25 (2002–2006) | imrt | 38 | 38 | 31 | 2.64 | 66 | No | Longitudinal 0, 1, 6, 12, 24, 36 |
qlq-C30 qlq-PR25 |
Urinary symptom scores reach peak at 1 month, normalized at 6 months, and stay stabilized afterward. Bowel symptom scores remain similar to baseline at 1 and 6 months, but worsen slowly at 1, 2, and 3 years. Sexual symptom score reaches nadir between 1 and 6 months, but improves between 2 and 3 years. |
| Lips et al., 2007 24 (1997–2004) |
imrt crt |
116 99 |
92 78 |
24 9 |
2.17 2 |
76 70 |
No | Longitudinal 0, 1, 6 |
qlq-C30 qlq-PR25 rand 36 |
No significant difference in qol between the imrt and 3dcrt groups. Sexual activity lower after treatment in both groups and remained lower after 6 months. Only 30 of 92 patients (33%) in imrt group and 28 of 78 patients (36%) in the crt group completed the sexual questionnaire. |
| Hanlon et al., 2001 34 (1992–1995) | 3dcrt | 95 100 |
66 73 |
None | 2.1 | 73 76 |
No Yes |
Cross sectional Median: 53–54 (Range: 35–71) |
aua spi bphii Author’s own |
Significant deterioration of bowel function in the group treated with pelvic rt compared with prostate rt only. Bladder and bowel function in general were comparable to a general population of similar age. |
| Pervez et al. (current study) (2005–2007) | imrt | 60 | 57 | 55 | 2.72 | 68 | Yes | Longitudinal 0, 1, 6 |
ucla pci | Urinary function items remained largely unaffected; urinary function overall was the only item adversely affected at 6 months, but not at 1 month. Bowel function was significantly adversely affected at both 1 and 6 months, with some improvement toward baseline at 6 months. Sexual function was significantly affected at baseline and 1 month, with no improvement observed at 6 months. Sexual function was not considered to be a problem by most patients. |
rt = radiation therapy; Pts = patients; ast = androgen suppression therapy; imrt = intensity-modulated radiotherapy; epic = Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite; xrt = external-beam radiotherapy; nr = not reported; ucla pci = University of California–Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index; SF-36 = Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36; cort = conventional radiotherapy; qlq-C30 = European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire core module; qlq-PR25 = European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire prostate cancer module; crt = conformal radiotherapy; rand 36 = rand-36 Measure of Health-Related Quality of Life; 3dcrt = 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy; aua = American Urological Association; spi = Symptom Problem Index; bphii = Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Impact Index.