External beam radiotherapy, along with radical prostatectomy, has been a mainstay treatment option for prostate cancer for decades and is currently recommended by numerous guidelines for the treatment of intermediate- and high-risk disease.1-3 While it is clear that radiotherapy should include the tumor, the prostate, and seminal vesicles, the role of prophylactic pelvic nodal irradiation for patients without overt evidence of regional pelvic nodal involvement has long been debated. 

Background



In spite of the rapid progress and many exciting advances in the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer over the past few years, the disease remains incurable with a median overall survival of 12-35 months.1-4

Background

While there have been dramatic changes in treatment options for patients with advanced prostate cancer over the past 5 years, perhaps the greatest change has been for patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC). Prior to February 14, 2018, there were no agents approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for men with nmCRPC. Since then, three agents have been approved (apalutamide, enzalutamide, and darolutamide, in chronologic sequence of approval). While approval was initially based on improvements in metastasis-free survival, the seminal phase III trials for each of these agents have now reported overall survival data.

Background

Since the seminal work of Huggins and Hodges1 seventy years ago, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has formed the cornerstone of management for advanced prostate cancer with indications including concurrent therapy with primary curative-intent radiotherapy, salvage therapy after recurrence following local therapy, and in the treatment of metastatic disease. While efficacious, nearly all patients will eventually develop castration resistance with disease progression despite castrate levels of testosterone. Among patients who receive ADT for biochemical recurrence following radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy, the development of castration resistance typically occurs prior to the identification of metastasis on conventional imaging, nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC). NmCRPC is typically identified on the basis of the PCWG3 consensus definition for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression on ADT, namely a 25% PSA increase from nadir (starting PSA ≥1.0 ng/mL), with a minimum rise of 2 ng/mL in the setting of castrate testosterone (< 50 ng/dL).2 In these patients, treatment is aimed at delaying the development of metastasis, preserving quality of life, and increasing overall survival.

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