Mid-Term Outcomes of Prostate Cancer Patients Treated With 3D Conformal Radiotherapy: Experience From a Single Cancer Institution in Iran Publisher



Bayani R ; Darzikolaee N M ; Biniaz M ; Pashaki A S ; Soltani S ; Hariri R ; Garousi M
Source: International Journal of Cancer Management Published:2026

Abstract

Background: Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men worldwide. Definitive radiotherapy is a standard curative treatment for localized disease. In many developing countries, limited access to advanced techniques, such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy, means that most patients are treated with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT). Local control is associated with disease-specific mortality. Objectives: We evaluated outcomes in patients with unfavorable intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer treated with 3D-CRT. Methods: This retrospective study included 47 patients who underwent definitive 3D-CRT at Hamadan University of Medical Sciences from 2014 onward. All patients received a total dose of 70 Gy delivered using a 4-field box technique, with whole-pelvis irradiation (46 Gy) administered during the initial phase. Data were collected from medical records. Results: During a median follow-up of 45 months, 13 patients (27.6%) experienced biochemical recurrence, 7 (14.9%) had local recurrence, and 6 (12.8%) developed bone metastases. The 3-year biochemical recurrence-free, local failure-free, and metastasis-free survival rates were 76%, 88%, and 88%, respectively. Among the evaluated factors, extraprostatic tumor extension showed a trend toward an increased risk of biochemical recurrence. Conclusions: Outcomes were slightly inferior to those reported in developed countries, highlighting the need for modern radiotherapy techniques to improve treatment efficacy and reduce toxicity. Expanding access to these technologies should be prioritized in health care planning in developing countries. Copyright © 2026, Bayani et al.