Impact of Age on Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer

Purpose Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) delivers large radiation doses to the prostate while minimizing exposure to adjacent normal tissues. Large fraction sizes may increase the risks of functional decrements. Elderly men may be at an increased risk of these toxicities due to poor baseline function and hence limited reserve. This study describes patient-reported outcomes following SBRT for clinically localized prostate cancer in the elderly. Methods Between 2007 and 2017, 179 hormone-naive elderly patients (≥ 70 years old) and 210 patients under 70 years old with clinically localized prostate cancer were treated with 35-36.25 Gy SBRT in five fractions utilizing the CyberKnife Radiosurgical System (Accuray Inc.). Quality of life (QOL) was assessed using the Expanded Prostate Index Composite-Short Form (EPIC-26) questionnaire at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months following the completion of treatment. EPIC scores range from 0 to 100, with lower values representing worsening symptoms. Results EPIC scores in the elderly cohort mirrored those in the younger cohort. EPIC urinary obstructive/irritative scores declined at one month post-SBRT (mean change from baseline ≥70: -7.9; <70: -11.1) before returning to baseline at three months post-SBRT (mean change from baseline ≥70: -0.4; <70: -1.4). The EPIC urinary incontinence scores declined slowly over the three years following treatment without recovery (mean change from baseline ≥70: -6.6; <70: -4.8). EPIC Bowel scores transiently declined at one month post-SBRT (mean change from baseline ≥70: -8.5; <70: -9.1) and then experienced a second more protracted decline over the next three years without recovery (mean change from baseline ≥70: -4.5; <70: -1.8). Hormonal EPIC scores were not impacted by radiation treatment or age. Older men had lower baseline and post-treatment EPIC sexual summary scores at all time points. However, there was no clinically significant difference in the EPIC sexual bother score between younger and older men at baseline and following treatment. Conclusions In the first three years following treatment, the impact of SBRT treatment on patient-reported outcomes was minimal. Our findings suggest that SBRT for clinically localized prostate cancer should not be deferred in older men solely due to concerns of increased morbidity. Further studies should be conducted to evaluate the impact of age on outcomes or morbidity following SBRT.