Shortened Radiotherapy Course for Prostate Cancer Found Effective in Long-Term Study

Recent findings from a significant clinical trial indicate that a two-week course of radiotherapy is as safe and effective as the traditional eight-week regimen for treating localized prostate cancer, even a decade after treatment. This research, presented at the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology's annual congress (ESTRO 2025), is expected to enhance treatment options for patients.

Prostate cancer remains the most frequently diagnosed cancer among men globally, with over 1.4 million new cases reported annually. Radiotherapy serves as a common treatment strategy, delivering results comparable to surgical interventions, particularly for localized cases. However, conventional radiotherapy typically requires several weeks of treatment, which can be inconvenient for patients and strain healthcare resources.

The HYPO-RT-PC trial, a pivotal study led by Swedish researchers, enrolled 1,200 men diagnosed with intermediate- to high-risk localized prostate cancer. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either:

• Short-course radiotherapy: 42.7 Gray (Gy) delivered in seven sessions over 2.5 weeks
• Standard-course radiotherapy: 78.0 Gy delivered in 39 sessions over 8 weeks

Over the ten-year follow-up, the study revealed that both treatment options yielded comparable results in terms of disease control and survival rates. Specifically, the study reported that:

• Failure-free survival rates (indicating no recurrence of cancer or need for further treatment) were 72% in the short-course group compared to 65% in the standard group.
• Overall survival rates were 81% for the short-course group compared to 79% for the standard group.
• Prostate cancer-specific mortality was reported at 4% for both groups.
• Side effects associated with urinary and bowel functions were similar across both treatment regimens, with most reported symptoms being mild to moderate.

These long-term outcomes confirm earlier findings from a five-year follow-up of the trial, validating that shorter courses of radiotherapy can effectively manage prostate cancer without increasing the risk of long-term side effects. The research underscores the potential for a more patient-friendly treatment approach that could lead to reduced healthcare costs and less disruption to patients' daily lives.

Professor Matthias Guckenberger, President of ESTRO, emphasized the significance of these findings, noting that shorter treatment schedules enable patients to resume their normal activities more swiftly. The ability to condense treatment duration to just two and a half weeks represents a substantial advantage for both patients and healthcare systems.

Overall, this research showcases how modern radiotherapy techniques can enhance treatment efficiency while maintaining high standards of effectiveness and safety, marking a positive shift in prostate cancer management.