David R, Buckby A, Kahokehr AA, Lee J, Watson DI, Leung J, O'Callaghan ME. Long term genitourinary toxicity following curative intent intensity-modulated radiotherapy for prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis. 2022 Mar 8. doi: 10.1038/s41391-022-00520-x.
Contact: Michael O’Callaghan

Recent studies have shown that radiation-induced pelvic toxicity often requires urological consultation. However, the 10-year incidence of genitourinary toxicity following intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) amongst patients with localised prostate cancer remains unclear.

Hence, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the incidence of late genitourinary toxicity relying on Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grade as well as the incidence of specific genitourinary toxicity.

We screened 4721 studies and six studies met our inclusion criteria. All included studies involved normofractionation, three included a hypofractionation comparator arm and none involved nodal irradiation.

It was found that there are few high-quality studies reporting 60-month toxicity rates after IMRT. Conservative estimates of 60-month toxicity rates are high and there is need for longer follow-up and consistent toxicity reporting standards.