Molecular Markers and Prostate Cancer Radiation Response
Abstract
Two cohorts of relatively early stage prostate cancer patients, one treated with radiation therapy and the other with surgery have been identified and have been shown to have similar 5-year disease free survivals after treatment. Abnormal p53 protein levels, indicating mutation, are present in a substantial percentage of relatively early stage prostate cancer patients. High levels of p53 protein strongly correlates, both under univariate and multivariate analysis, with higher rates of subsequent PSA failure in patients treated with radiation therapy but not in patients treated with radical prostatectomy indicating a predictive power that has significant specificity of radiation. This study indicates that p53 is a very strong predictor of outcome after radiotherapy but not after surgery in early stage prostate cancer. If pretreatment markers such as p53 that are specific for radiation response can be identified and confirmed in additional clinical trials, their availability could ultimately supplement the medical decision-making process and allow better prospective tailoring of treatment to the biological characteristics of each patient's tumor. For example, a patient predicted to be at high risk for failure specifically after conventional radiotherapy might be better served by surgery or by aggressive dose escalation or perhaps by therapies that targets the identified molecular defect.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA434556
Entities
People
- Mark A. Ritter
Organizations
- University of Wisconsin–Madison