Combining hormone therapy with radiation

Combining hormone therapy (anti-androgen) with radiation

This topic is still controversial but the studies now suggest the following based on whether the cancer is low risk, intermediate risk or high risk as defined below: (the key studies RTOG 85-31, 86-10, 92-02, 94-13 and EORTC are described: here for the details, note that EORTC trial showed improved overall survival) and the recent Harvard study showed a survival benefit from short term (6 months) hormone therapy in the intermediate risk group (see study and editorial.) Six months is preferable to only 3 to 4 months for Gleason of 7 (go here). Overall the most obvious benefits occur in patients with higher Gleason score or PSA (go here.) If the risk of relapse are too high then 6 months of hormones may not be enough (go here). In the current RTOG trial (0815) for patients with intermediate risk they are randomizing high does radiation alone (79.2Gy or 1.8Gy X 44) or combined with 6 months of combined hormone therapy (XRT starts 8 weeks after starting hormones). The TROG 96-01 trial for intermediate risk prostate cancer showed long term survival benefits from 6 months of hormone therapy (go here).

Another study showed that for patients with high risk prostate cancer hormones alone is not adequate and hormones should be combined with radiation (go here). The NCCN radiation guidelines include no hormones in low risk, 4-6 months in intermediate risk and 2-3 years for high risk men. Also read the main hormone section for a discussion of side effects of hormones.

According to the NCCN guidelines (go here) it is not necessary to combine radiation with hormone therapy (Lupron or Zoladex) for low risk patients (Gleason 6 and PSA less than 10) but may be considered for 4 to 6 months in the intermediate risk patients (Gleason 7 or PSA between 10 and 20) and definitely be used for 2 to 3 years in the high risk patients (Gleason 8 - 10 or PSA over 20). There is still uncertainty about how long the hormone therapy must continue (see here).

Hormonal therapy combined with seeds is discussed in the seed section. A recent review showed improved overall survival in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer (go here) particularly with long term hormone use.


1. if the tumor is small and early stage (T1c or small T2a) and the PSA is less than 10 and the Gleason is 6 or lower, then radiation alone is probably adequate based on survival (but even in this group hormone therapy probably improves the cure rate or delays a relapse with a rising PSA) 2. if the cancer has any one risk factor (stage T2b or PSA over 10 or Gleason of 7) then the patient should get neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (which means a Lupron shot two months before radiation and then hormones continued during the radiation period for a total of 4 - 6 months, it's unclear if a longer course of hormone therapy would be even better.) The RTOG 94-08 showed a survival benefit in this group (but not low risk) for 4 months of combined hormonal therapy (go here). 3. if the cancer had more than two risk factors, or the PSA > 20 or Gleason 8 or higher, the the hormones should probably be continued for an indefinite period ( 2 to 5 years, see the NCCN guidelines) and here.


The duration of hormone therapy is uncertain, short term (4 - 6 months) definitely delays recurrences but may increase survival only in the intermediate risk group. (in RTOG 86-10 the 4 mos hormones increased overall survival from 52%/5y to 72%/5y only in the Gleason 2-6 group.) but high risk patients may need long term hormones to show a survival benefit (in RTOG 92-02 comparing 28 months with 4 months of hormones, only the Gleason 8-10 had improved overall survival (80% versus 69%.)

Risk Group	No Hormones	6 months Hormones
Low	81%/5y	94%/5y
Intermediate	56%/5y	98%/5y
High Risk	30%/5y	85%/5y

Risk Group	no Hormones	6 Months Hormones
Low	84%	92%
Intermediate	62%	86%
High	43%	67%