Key clinical point: Insertion of a hydrogel spacer significantly reduced rectal doses in prostate cancer patients undergoing stereotactic body radiotherapy, and no severe adverse events related to the spacer procedure were observed.
Major finding: Rectal doses after spacer insertion were significantly lower than before spacer insertion. The primary endpoint of grade 2 acute gastrointestinal toxicity within 3 months occurred in 7 patients (18%), and a secondary endpoint of grade 2 acute genitourinary toxicity occurred in 17 patients. (44%).
Study details: The data come from a prospective, single-center, phase II safety and efficacy study including 40 men aged 20-80 years with prostate cancer. Patients received a hydrogel spacer inserted into the perirectal space between the prostate and rectum before undergoing stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT).
Disclosures: The study was funded by MEXT KAKENHI. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.
Source: Ogita M et al. Radiat Oncol. 2021 Jun 12. doi: 10.1186/s13014-021-01834-1.