Prostate history need not change therapy

MIAMI, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Men with a family history of prostate cancer should expect as good outcomes following radiation as patients who don't, U.S. researchers say.

Dr. Mark Buyyounouski, a radiation oncologist at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, and colleagues examined 1,711 men who received three-dimensional conformal (3DCRT) or intensity modulated radiotherapy from 1989 to 2007 at Fox Chase Cancer Center.

A positive family history was defined as any prostate cancer in one or more first-degree relatives. In the study, 28 percent of the patients had a positive family history for prostate cancer. The median follow-up from completion of treatment was 71 months, Buyyounouski said.

"What we learned was that whether the men had a history of prostate cancer or not, all had equivalent prostate specific antigen controls, freedom from metastasis or cancer spread, recurrence-free survival and overall survival," Buyyounouski said in a statement.

"Patients should feel comfortable knowing that when they receive radiotherapy having a history of prostate cancer in the family doesn't compromise the results. This is important because patients, especially those with a family history, might assume that radiotherapy might not work as well and opt for surgery when it may not be necessary."

Buyyounouski presented the findings at the 53rd annual meeting of the American Society of Radiation Oncology in Miami.