Comparison of biochemical recurrence in prostate cancer patients treated with radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy

PURPOSE We evaluated the biochemical recurrence (BCR) of prostate cancer patients treated by radical prostatectomy (RP) or radiotherapy (RT). MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients who underwent RP or RT as primary definitive treatment from 2007 were enrolled for this study. They were divided into two groups; the low-intermediate risk group and the high risk group according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. We compared differences such as age, prostate specific antigen, Gleason score, follow-up duration, clinical T staging, and BCR. Their BCR-free survival rates were analyzed. RESULTS A total of 165 patients were enrolled. There were 115 patients in the low-intermediate risk. Among them, 88 received RP and 27 underwent RT. BCR occurred in 9 of the RP patients (10.2%) and 3 of the RT patients (11.1%). For the high risk group, 50 patients were included. RP was performed in 25 patients and RT in 25 patients. BCR was observed in 4 of the RP patients (16%) and 12 of the RT patients (48%). There were no differences in BCR-free survival for the low-intermediate group (p=0.765). For the high risk group, the RP group had a higher BCR free survival rate (p=0.032). CONCLUSIONS No difference of BCR and BCR-free survival was seen in the low-intermediate risk group but lower BCR and better BCR-free survival were observed for patients that received RP in the high risk group. RP should be a more strongly considered option when deciding the treatment method for selected high risk patients.