New Markers for Treatment Response to Radiotherapy in Prostate Cancer

New Markers for Treatment Response to Radiotherapy in Prostate Cancer

The actual follow-up of patients undergoing definite radiotherapy for prostate cancer includes regular measurements of prostate specific antigen (PSA). Successful radiotherapy is critically dependent on local control of cancer; however, PSA takes 2-3 years to reach a nadir after therapy. We aim at collecting blood/urine after prostate massage before, and after radiotherapy in order to define new markers predicting local control earlier and more precisely than PSA.

Patients will be closely followed for 5 years (weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, and months 2, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, and then yearly). Each assessment includes PSA measurement, urine collection after prostatic massage, and blood collection.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All patients undergoing radiotherapy of biopsy confirmed clinically localised adenocarcinoma of the prostate

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients with inflammatory processes of the rectum
• patients with no rectum due to previous surgery