Table 2.
Summary of findings of carbon ion radiotherapy and proton beam therapy for prostate cancer patients.
| Outcomes | Carbon ion radiotherapy | Proton Beam Therapy | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| № of participants (studies) | Certainty of the evidence (GRADE) | № of participants (studies) | Certainty of the evidence (GRADE) | |
| OS follow up: range 36 months to 120 months |
2307 (8 observational studies) |
⊕⃝⃝⃝ VERY LOW |
11417 (7 observational studies) |
⊕⃝⃝⃝ VERY LOW |
| LCR follow up: range 36 to 60 months |
1004 (6 observational studies) | ⊕⊕⃝⃝ LOW |
– | – |
| BRF follow up: range 36 months to 96 months |
2211 (8 observational studies) |
⊕⃝⃝⃝ VERY LOW |
– | – |
| acute gastrointestinal toxicity (AGI) follow up: range 6 months to 96 months |
7753 (8 observational studies) |
⊕⃝⃝⃝ VERY LOW |
4057 (8 observational studies) |
⊕⃝⃝⃝ VERY LOW |
| (LGI) follow up: range 6 months to 96 months |
11304 (12 observational studies) |
⊕⃝⃝⃝ VERY LOW |
10856 (12 observational studies) |
⊕⃝⃝⃝ VERY LOW |
| AGU follow up: range 6 months to 96 months |
10038 (9 observational studies) |
⊕⃝⃝⃝ VERY LOW |
6164 (12 observational studies) |
⊕⃝⃝⃝ VERY LOW |
| LGU follow up: range 6 months to 96 months |
12384 (12 observational studies) |
⊕⃝⃝⃝ VERY LOW |
11575 (15 observational studies) |
⊕⃝⃝⃝ VERY LOW |
OS, overall survival; LCR, local control rate; BRF, biochemical relapse-free rate; AGI, acute gastrointestinal toxicity; LGI: late gastrointestinal toxicity; AGU, acute genitourinary toxicity; LGU, late genitourinary toxicity.
GRADE Working Group grades of evidence
High certainty: We are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect.
Moderate certainty: We are moderately confident in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different.
Low certainty: Our confidence in the effect estimate is limited: The true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect.
Very low certainty: We have very little confidence in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect.