Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39700435›Full record

SynthesisThe British journal of radiology2025

Partial or focal brachytherapy for prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Enrique Gutiérrez-Valencia, Inmaculada Navarro-Domenech, Kailee Zhou, Marc Barcelona, Rouhi Fazelzad, Matthew Ramotar, Irving Sanchez, Victor Ruiz, Robert Weersink, Rachel Glicksman and 5 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The British journal of radiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Enrique Gutiérrez-ValenciaPrincess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada.
Inmaculada Navarro-DomenechPrincess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada.
Kailee ZhouPrincess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada.
Marc BarcelonaPrincess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada.
Rouhi FazelzadPrincess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada.
Matthew RamotarPrincess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada.
Irving SanchezDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Western National Medical Center, Mexican Institute of Social Security, UdG School of Medicine, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, 44340, Mexico.
Victor RuizDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Western National Medical Center, Mexican Institute of Social Security, UdG School of Medicine, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, 44340, Mexico.
Robert WeersinkPrincess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada.
Rachel GlicksmanPrincess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada.
Joelle HelouLondon Regional Cancer Program, London Health Sciences Centre, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5W9, Canada.
Alejandro BerlinPrincess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-1880-6905
Peter ChungPrincess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada.
Ronald ChowPrincess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada.
Srinivas RamanPrincess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-5688-9628

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesRecent advances in image-guided brachytherapy have allowed for treatment volume reduction in the treatment of prostate cancer, with the aim to optimize disease control and reduce toxicities. This systematic review reports on the efficacy and safety of focal brachytherapy for treatment of patients with localized prostate cancer.

methodsMedline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane were searched from inception to July 2023. Studies were included if they reported on focal brachytherapy, and described either dosimetry or clinical outcomes in the monotherapy or salvage setting. Meta-analysis was conducted to estimate biochemical control (BC) at 12-60 months. The review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022320921).

resultsTwenty-six studies reporting on 1492 patients were included in this review. Fourteen studies reported on monotherapy, 10 on salvage, and two on boost. The majority of studies used MRI and/or biopsy or PET for target identification, and MRI fusion and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) for image guidance technique. BC for monotherapy was 97% (95% CI: 86%-99%) at 24 months and 82% (95% CI: 65%-92%) at 60 months. BC for salvage was 67% (95% CI: 62%-72%) at 24 months and 35% (95% CI: 17%-58%) at 60 months. Low rates of toxicity were reported across studies.

conclusionsFocal brachytherapy has promising efficacy and safety profiles. Future studies may compare focal brachytherapy to whole-gland treatments, to investigate relative efficacy and safety. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: In well-selected patients, partial or focal brachytherapy represents an evidence-based option with acceptable BC rates and a favourable toxicity profile.

Indexed as

BrachytherapyProstatic NeoplasmsHumansMaleRadiotherapy, Image-GuidedSalvage TherapyTreatment Outcomefocal prostate brachytherapyfocal salvage brachytherapyHDR and LDR focal brachytherapypartial or focal prostate brachytherapy

Identifiers

PMID39700435
PMCPMC11840170

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.