Long-term urinary continence and influencing factors after salvage radiotherapy: results of the SAKK 09/10 dose escalation trial

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK) - (Author)
  • Department of Radiotherapy and Radiooncology
  • Cantonal Hospital Winterthur
  • University of Bern
  • Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research
  • University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden
  • Cantonal Hospital Luzern
  • University of Würzburg
  • University of Rostock
  • University Hospital Tübingen
  • Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen
  • University of Basel
  • Hirslanden Private Hospital Group
  • University of Zurich
  • Ghent University
  • Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC)
  • Hospital Münsterlingen
  • Hôpital du Valais
  • Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
  • Cantonal Hospital Aarau

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate late urinary incontinence (UI) after salvage radiotherapy (sRT) and the effect of dose escalation on late UI, incontinence recovery, and quality of life (QoL) as part of the SAKK 09/10 phase III trial. Methods: The SAKK 09/10 trial was a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial for prostate cancer patients receiving sRT. Eligible patients were randomized to receive either conventional (64 Gy) or dose-escalated (70 Gy) sRT. Baseline and follow-up data were collected on urinary incontinence related QoL, and treatment toxicity. Results: 344 evaluable patients were analyzed. Baseline incontinence (≥Grade (G)1) was reported in 32.2 % of patients, with 8.7 % having ≥ G2. During follow-up (median 6.2 years), 47.2 % of the initially continent (<G1) patients showed a statistically significant (p < 0.001) decline in continence with no significant difference between the treatment groups (p = 0.17). Of the initially incontinent patients, 54.1 % showed an improvement whilst 16.2 % showed further decline. 29.7 % had stable UI. There was no significant difference between the treatment arms (p = 0.36). In multivariable logistic regression, nerve sparing technique was associated with less UI at 24 months (p = 0.029) and at 60 months age (p = 0.031) and resection status (p = 0.046) were significant. There was a steady worsening of urinary symptoms reported over 60 months post RT, with an increase in the symptom scales from a mean of 15.9 at baseline to 22.9 at 60 months. Conclusion: More than half of the patients that were continent at baseline remained continent during follow up while incontinent patients showed a variable course. UI was not different between the RT treatment arms.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number111040
JournalRadiotherapy and oncology
Volume211
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2025
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 40639766

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Prostate cancer, Quality of life, Radiotherapy, Urinary incontinence