Intra-prostatic recurrences after radiotherapy with focal boost: Location and dose mapping in the FLAME trial

Introduction

The FLAME trial demonstrated that the dose to the gross tumor volume (GTV) is associated with tumour control in prostate cancer patients. This raises the question if dose de-escalation to the remaining prostate gland can be considered. Therefore, we investigated if intraprostatic recurrences occur at the location of the GTV and which dose was delivered at that location.

Materials and methods

For FLAME trial patients with an intra-prostatic recurrence, we collected pre-treatment images, GTV delineations, dose distributions and post-recurrence images. Pre-treatment images were registered to the post-recurrence images (PSMA-PET CT). An overlap between GTV and PSMA-PET activity was considered an intra-prostatic recurrence at the location of the primary tumor.

Results

Twenty eight out of 535 patients in the FLAME trial had an intra-prostatic recurrence. Its location could be determined for 24 patients. One patient recurred in the prostate gland outside the GTV. The median near-minimum dose to the GTV (D98%) was 76.5 Gy (range: 73.3–86.5 Gy). Only one patient with a recurrence in the GTV received a substantial focal boost of 86.5 Gy. The D98% of all remaining patients was < 81 Gy.

Conclusion

Intra-prostatic recurrences of intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer patients treated with radiotherapy appeared predominantly at the location of the primary tumor. All but one patient did not receive a high dose to the GTV. Intra-prostatic failure is likely a consequence of the undertreatment of the primary tumor rather than the undertreatment of the remaining prostate gland.