Erectile dysfunction in prostate cancer patients treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy

Background: Sexual dysfunction is an important side-effect after radiotherapy (RT) for prostate cancer (PCa). The aim of this study was to compare sexual functions of PCa patients before and after intensity-modulated RT and to analyze their correlation with penile bulb (PB) doses and patient charact...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Indian journal of cancer 2020-01, Vol.57 (1), p.70-75
Main Authors: Yildirim, Halil, Ergen, Sefika, Sedef, Emine, Sahin, Merve, Karacam, Songul, Senocak, Mustafa, Dincbas, Fazilet
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Cancer patients
Cancer research
Cancer therapies
Cardiovascular disease
Care and treatment
Chronic illnesses
Coronary vessels
Diabetes
Dosimetry
Drug dosages
Endocrine therapy
Erectile dysfunction
Hormones
Hypertension
Hypotheses
Impotence
Medical research
Patients
Physicians
Prostate cancer
Questionnaires
Radiation therapy
Radiotherapy
Sexual disorders
Studies
Testosterone
Ultrasonic imaging
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Summary:Background: Sexual dysfunction is an important side-effect after radiotherapy (RT) for prostate cancer (PCa). The aim of this study was to compare sexual functions of PCa patients before and after intensity-modulated RT and to analyze their correlation with penile bulb (PB) doses and patient characteristics. Materials and Methods: Forty-two patients who underwent RT ± hormone therapy for PCa between 2010 and 2013 were analyzed. Sexual functions assessed by patient-reported questionnaire and physician reported scale before and 3 years after treatment. The effect of patients' age, prostate volume, testosterone levels, comorbidity, smoking status, tumor stage, RT technique, hormone therapy, and PB doses to sexual functions were investigated. Results:After 3 years of RT, 64.3% of all patients had a lower erectile score; and 75% of patients who were previously potent (n = 24) had become impotent after treatment. However sexual desire still remained in 75.8% of patients who had desire before treatment (n = 33). Statistical analysis showed that two parameters were correlated with postradiotherapy impotency outcome; PB mean radiation dose (P = 0.033) and testosterone levels (P = 0.032). Conclusions: RT, despite modern techniques, affects the sexual function of PCa patients in varying degrees. Reducing radiation doses to penile structures may play a role in preventing erectile dysfunction.
ISSN:0019-509X
1998-4774
DOI:10.4103/ijc.IJC_465_18