REVIEWS   

Minerva Urologica e Nefrologica 2006 December;58(4):321-7

Copyright © 2006 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Role of radiation therapy in the treatment of unfavorable risk prostate cancer

Chan L. W., Roach M. III

Department of Radiation Oncology, UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center San Francisco, CA, USA

Treatment of prostate cancer is extremely controversial because of the lack of evidence that most patients benefit from treatment. This general rule, however, does not apply to patients with unfavorable risk prostate cancer. There is a large body of literature that suggests that intervention impacts the natural history of patients with unfavorable risk prostate cancer. Thus, there are essentially no experts that would argue that such patients do not need to be treated. Controversies arise, however, as to what is the best treatment of patients with unfavorable risk prostate cancer. Before addressing this issue, however, it is critical to define unfavorable risk prostate cancer.