Amifostine to Protect the Rectum During External Beam Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer

Amifostine as a Rectal Protector During External Beam Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer: A Phase II Study

This study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a drug called amifostine in reducing the bowel side effects of radiation treatment for prostate cancer. Amifostine is a 'radioprotector' medicine that to protects normal tissue from radiation damage. This study will determine whether placing amifostine in the rectum during radiation treatment for prostate cancer can decrease common side effects of treatment, including diarrhea, painful bowel movements, bleeding, and gas. Patients 18 years of age or older with prostate cancer may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history and physical examination, blood tests, bone scan if a recent one is not available, and possibly computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the pelvis. They will also have a liquid retention test, in which they are given an enema of 4 tablespoons of salt water that they must retain for 20 minutes. Participants will receive standard radiation therapy for prostate cancer-5 consecutive days for 8 weeks-in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Radiation Oncology Clinic. Amifostine will be placed in the rectum by a mini-enema before each radiation treatment so that it covers the lining of the rectum. To determine the side effects of the treatment, patients will undergo a proctoscopic examination before beginning radiation therapy, two times during therapy, and at each follow-up visit for 5 years after treatment ends. This examination involves inserting a proctoscope (a thin flexible tube with a light at the end) into the rectum and taking pictures. Patients will be followed in the clinic at visits scheduled 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months after treatment for a physical examination and routine blood tests, proctoscopic examination, and review of bowel symptoms.

Normal tissue tolerance of the rectum limits the dose of radiation that can be delivered to the prostate for curative treatment of prostate cancer. Amifostine is a radioprotector, an agent that reduces tissue damage incurred by ionizing radiation. It has been well studied in humans and is approved for intravenous use. Rectal administration results in a preferential accumulation of Amifostine in the rectal mucosa, and neither free parent compound nor free active metabolite have been detected in systemic circulation. This trial proposes to observe the rate of early and late bowel toxicity in a group of patients with prostate cancer receiving standard high dose, 3D conformal external beam radiotherapy and concurrent intra-rectal applications of Amifostine. Primary measures of rectal toxicity (RTOG radiation morbidity scoring) will also be compared with self-assessment measures of quality of life, and rectal radiation dose as assessed by dose-volume histograms.

1000 mg for the first 18 patients. 2000 mg for the last 12 patients. The syringe of amifostine will be connected to a rectal enema bottle for administration. Administered slowly over 30-60 seconds with the patient in recumbent position 30-45 minutes prior to each radiation treatment (33-39 doses).

1000 mg for the first 18 patients. 2000 mg for the last 12 patients. The syringe of amifostine will be connected to a rectal enema bottle for administration. Administered slowly over 30-60 seconds with the patient in recumbent position 30-45 minutes prior to each radiation treatment (33-39 doses).

The treatment will be delivered in at least two phases. The first field reduction will occur after 46Gy and the second field reduction will occur after 70Gy.

Percentage of Participants With a Good Toxicity Outcome Who Experienced an Acute Rectal Toxicity and Received Topical Administrations of Amifostine in Conjunction With High Dose, 3D Conformal Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer.

A good toxicity outcome is defined as having less than grade 2 on both weeks 5 and 7 of treatment. The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) Acute radiation morbidity scoring scheme and the Rectal Mucosal Toxicity response criteria will be used to assess rectal toxicity. The RTOG measures the rectal toxicities. The physician assigns a grade based on symptoms reported by the patient. For details about the RTOG (method and scoring of radiation morbidity, etc.) see http://www.rtog.org/ResearchAssociates/AdverseEventReporting/AcuteRadiationMorbidityScoringCriteria.aspx

Percentage of Participants With a Good Toxicity Outcome Who Experienced Late Rectal Toxicity and Received Topical Administrations of Amifostine in Conjunction With High Dose, 3D Conformal Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer.

A good toxicity outcome is defined as having less than grade 2 on both weeks 5 and 7 of treatment. Week 5, 7 were during treatment measuring acute toxicity. The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) Acute radiation morbidity scoring scheme and the Rectal Mucosal Toxicity response criteria will be used to assess rectal toxicity. The RTOG measures the rectal toxicities. The physician assigns a grade based on symptoms reported by the patient. For details about the RTOG see http://www.rtog.org/ResearchAssociates/AdverseEventReporting/AcuteRadiationMorbidityScoringCriteria.aspx.

The late rectal toxicity has been assessed at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, and 60 months after the completion of treatment.

Here are the number of participants with adverse events. For the detailed list of adverse events see the adverse event module.

Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) Bowel Assessment Over Time (Late Follow-up 18 Months)

The EPIC bowel assessment is a 26 item short form evaluation that assess patient function and bother after prostate treatment. The Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite is a self assessment questionnaire designed to measure quality of life in patients with prostate cancer. The questionnaire is scored on a scale of 0-100 with higher scores correlated with higher function and quality of life. For this study, the Bowel Domain was analyzed alongside the RTOG acute and late gastrointestinal morbidity scores. For details re: EPIC, see http://www.med.umich.edu/urology/research/EPIC/EPIC-2.2002.pdf

Radiation toxicity consists of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group(RTOG)acute(within 90 days of treatment)and RTOG late(>90days after treatment). This scoring system assigns a toxicity grade (0-4) based on symptoms with 0 being the best outcome. The Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite(EPIC) questionnaire consists of 50 quality of life items divided into 4 domains, urinary, bowel, sexual and hormonal. Each independent domain renders a scoring of 0-100 with 100 being the best score. The EPIC and RTOG scores were correlated not combined.

Proctoscopic scoring of mucosal change was performed according to a descriptive scale, described by Wachter et al, which assigns grades of mucosal congestion, telangiectasia, ulcerations, stricture, and necrosis.

INCLUSION CRITERIA: Pathologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate gland. Age greater than or equal to 18 years. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1. Informed consent: All patients must sign a document of informed consent indicating their understanding of the investigational nature and risks of the study before any protocol related studies are performed (this does not include routine laboratory tests or imaging studies required to establish eligibility). EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Other active malignancy (except for non-melanoma skin cancer). Patient with a prior history of pelvic or prostate radiotherapy. Patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Patients with distant metastatic disease. Cognitively impaired patients who cannot give informed consent. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positivity. Other medical conditions deemed by the principal investigator (PI) or associates to make the patient ineligible for high dose radiotherapy.

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