Two-Week Radiotherapy Matches Eight-Week Prostate Cancer Treatment

Author: European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO)
Published: 2025/05/05
Publication Details: Peer-Reviewed, Findings
Topic: Prostate Cancer - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: This research, published in the journal Radiotherapy and Oncology and presented at a major oncology congress, reports on a large, authoritative phase III clinical trial that followed 1,200 men with intermediate- to high-risk localized prostate cancer for a decade after treatment. The study found that a two-and-a-half-week course of precision radiotherapy (seven sessions, 42.7 Gy) is just as safe and effective as the traditional eight-week regimen (39 sessions, 78 Gy), with similar rates of disease control, survival, and mild-to-moderate side effects. After 10 years, failure-free survival was 72% for the short-course group versus 65% for the standard group, overall survival was 81% versus 79%, and prostate cancer-specific mortality was 4% in both groups.

The findings are especially useful for seniors, people with disabilities, and anyone for whom lengthy treatment schedules are burdensome, as the shorter regimen reduces disruption to daily life and may lower healthcare costs without compromising outcomes or safety. The robust, randomized design and decade-long follow-up make these results highly credible and practice-changing for prostate cancer care - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men worldwide, accounting for more than 1.4 million new cases each year [1]. For many patients, radiotherapy is a standard treatment option that offers outcomes comparable to surgery, particularly for localized disease [2]. As an outpatient procedure, it allows men to maintain much of their daily routine during treatment. However, traditional radiotherapy schedules typically span several weeks, which can be burdensome for patients and put pressure on healthcare structures and radiotherapy capacity.

Focus

A major clinical trial (HYPO-RT-PC) has shown that a significantly shorter course of radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer is just as safe and effective as the traditional eight-week schedule - even 10 years after treatment. The findings, presented at ESTRO 2025, the annual congress of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology, give both patients and doctors greater confidence in choosing this short-course approach, also called "ultra hypo-fractionated radiotherapy".

The study, led by researchers in Sweden, found that delivering precision radiotherapy over just two and a half weeks is equally successful in beating prostate cancer as the standard eight-week approach. A decade after treatment, both options produced similar disease control rates and survival.

"These long-term findings confirm previous 5-year results from the trial [3], showing that delivering fewer, higher doses over a shorter period works just as well as the standard approach - not just in theory, but in real-world clinical practice," concluded Associate Professors Per Nilsson, senior radiation physicist, and Adalsteinn Gunnlaugsson, radiation oncologist, who led the 10-year outcome analysis of the HYPO-RT-PC trial, at Skåne University Hospital and Lund University, Sweden.

"For patients, this means less disruption to daily life and potentially lower healthcare costs - without compromising outcomes and safety."

About the Study

This large phase III clinical trial enrolled 1,200 men with intermediate- to high-risk localized prostate cancer. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either:

• Short-course radiotherapy: 42.7 Gray (Gy) delivered in 7 sessions over 2.5 weeks
• Standard-course radiotherapy: 78.0 Gy delivered in 39 sessions over 8 weeks

Researchers assessed survival, cancer recurrence, and treatment-related side effects, including urinary and bowel symptoms.

Key outcomes after 10 years:

• Failure-free survival (no return of cancer or need for additional treatment): 72% in the short-course group vs 65% in the standard group
• Overall survival: 81% for short-course vs 79% for standard
• Prostate cancer-specific mortality: 4% in both groups
• Side effects: Urinary and bowel symptoms were similar in both groups, and most were mild to moderate.

"These findings confirm that the shorter course does not increase long-term side effects and provides equally durable cancer control", added Camilla Thellenberg-Karlsson, MD, PhD, at Umeå University, who presented the results at the ESTRO meeting.

Implications for Cancer Care

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men, and radiotherapy remains a key treatment. These results demonstrate how modern radiotherapy approaches can make treatment more efficient, accessible, and patient-friendly - without sacrificing effectiveness or safety.

Professor Matthias Guckenberger, President of ESTRO, added:

"Shorter treatment schedules mean patients can return to their normal lives more quickly. Reducing treatment time to just two and a half week is a major win for both patients and health systems. "This study exemplifies the kind of impactful, practice-changing research we are proud to showcase at ESTRO 2025."

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) and published on 2025/05/05, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) can be contacted at ESTRO NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.