Affiliation:
1. Nanavati Max Institute of Cancer Care, Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Abstract
Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is an important option for prostate cancer treatment. It involves the delivery of a high dose of radiation to the malignant tissue without affecting the neighboring healthy tissue to achieve a high therapeutic index. As the cells of prostate cancer are radiobiologically similar to a late-responding tissue with a low 𝛼/𝛽 ratio, the dose escalation approach has a better disease control probability than conventional dose fractionation. Therefore, considering the availability of intensity-modulated RT and possibility of dose escalation (>70 Gy), ultrahypofractionated SBRT is now being recommended in select patients with prostate cancers of low and intermediate risk. Although adverse events following SBRT are a concern, acute toxicity can be limited to a certain extent by adjusting the overall length of treatment time by spacing out RT over multiple fractions. Modern radiation planning and delivery methods used in conjunction with cutting-edge imaging techniques have led to the increased adoption of SBRT in prostate cancer. Thus, from a practical standpoint, it is noninvasive and effective for treating prostate cancer, leading to increased access and higher patient satisfaction.
Subject
General Earth and Planetary Sciences,General Environmental Science