OBJECTIVE: This study was done to assess the impact of clinical factors and in particular the use of drugs for concomitant illnesses on late radiation-induced rectal bleeding in patients with prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with histologically proven prostate adenocarcinoma treated with radical radiotherapy and followed up for at least 6 months were selected. The correlation between late rectal bleeding and a number of factors was investigated by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: A total of 278 patients who underwent radiotherapy at our institution between October 2002 and May 2011 were selected. At univariate analysis, delivery of radiation doses higher than 70 Gy and use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were associated with a higher incidence of rectal bleeding. Conversely, patients who used calcium channel blockers had a lower risk (3-year rectal bleeding-free survival 89.8 versus 66.5 %, p = 0.043). At multivariate analysis, use of calcium channel blockers was found to have a protective effect with a hazard ratio of 0.3 (95 % CI 0.12-0.96). Delivery of higher radiation doses was associated with an increased risk of rectal bleeding (hazard ratio 3.02, 95 % CI 1.23-7.38). CONCLUSIONS: Use of calcium channel blockers during and after radiotherapy treatment might have a protective effect against late rectal bleeding. If these results are reconfirmed by larger clinical series, calcium channel blockers may be tested as radioprotector agents in clinical trials.
OBJECTIVE: This study was done to assess the impact of clinical factors and in particular the use of drugs for concomitant illnesses on late radiation-induced rectal bleeding in patients with prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Patients with histologically proven prostate adenocarcinoma treated with radical radiotherapy and followed up for at least 6 months were selected. The correlation between late rectal bleeding and a number of factors was investigated by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: A total of 278 patients who underwent radiotherapy at our institution between October 2002 and May 2011 were selected. At univariate analysis, delivery of radiation doses higher than 70 Gy and use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were associated with a higher incidence of rectal bleeding. Conversely, patients who used calcium channel blockers had a lower risk (3-year rectal bleeding-free survival 89.8 versus 66.5 %, p = 0.043). At multivariate analysis, use of calcium channel blockers was found to have a protective effect with a hazard ratio of 0.3 (95 % CI 0.12-0.96). Delivery of higher radiation doses was associated with an increased risk of rectal bleeding (hazard ratio 3.02, 95 % CI 1.23-7.38). CONCLUSIONS: Use of calcium channel blockers during and after radiotherapy treatment might have a protective effect against late rectal bleeding. If these results are reconfirmed by larger clinical series, calcium channel blockers may be tested as radioprotector agents in clinical trials.
Authors: Susan L Tucker; Lei Dong; Walter R Bosch; Jeff Michalski; Kathryn Winter; Radhe Mohan; James A Purdy; Deborah Kuban; Andrew K Lee; M Rex Cheung; Howard D Thames; James D Cox Journal: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys Date: 2010-07-02 Impact factor: 7.038
Authors: Christopher D Jahraus; Doug Bettenhausen; Uzma Malik; Marguerite Sellitti; William H St Clair Journal: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys Date: 2005-08-15 Impact factor: 7.038
Authors: Riccardo Valdagni; Michael W Kattan; Tiziana Rancati; Changhong Yu; Vittorio Vavassori; Giovanni Fellin; Elena Cagna; Pietro Gabriele; Flora Anna Mauro; Micaela Baccolini; Carla Bianchi; Loris Menegotti; Angelo F Monti; Michele Stasi; Maria Olga Giganti; Claudio Fiorino Journal: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys Date: 2011-06-02 Impact factor: 7.038
Authors: Isabel Syndikus; Rachel C Morgan; Matthew R Sydes; John D Graham; David P Dearnaley Journal: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys Date: 2009-10-14 Impact factor: 7.038