Outcome for lymph node dissection negative T-1b, T-2 (A-2,B) prostate cancer treated with external beam radiation therapy in RTOG 77-06

One hundred four patients with stage T-1b, T-2 N-O M-O prostate cancer were treated with external beam irradiation as part of RTOG 77-06. Lymph nodes were negative by lymph node dissection in 16 patients with T-1b and 88 patients with T-2 cancers. Survival exceeds age matched expected survival for the 10 years of observation (63% vs 59% at 10 years). Patterns of failure at 10 years show 87% of patients were free of isolated local recurrence, 79% free of metastatic failure, 67% free of any failure, and cause specific survival shows 86% free of cancer death at 10 years. The outcome of this group is equal or superior to reports of radical prostatectomy in similar stage patients.