The goal of this clinical research study is to evaluate a system for localizing (targeting for treatment) the prostate for external beam radiation therapy. The system will be used to locate the prostate before treatment and to measure movement of the prostate during treatment. The data collected with the system will be compared to CT images taken during the course of your radiation therapy treatment. Researchers will try to use this information to verify the performance of the system, which could lead to improved positioning and tracking of the prostate during treatment.
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Inclusion Criteria: 1. Patients with pathologic diagnosis of prostate cancer. 2. Patients must plan to have external beam radiation as the definitive treatment for their prostate cancer with daily localization. 3. Patients must be able to tolerate transrectal or transperineal implantation of three fiducial markers into the prostate. 4. Patients must be able to tolerate frequent (e.g. three CT scans per week) CT scanning. 5. Patients must be able to lie flat and still for the duration of the fiducial-based localization and CT scanning sessions. 6. Patients must have anatomy that will allow an adequate pelvic image on portal imaging and CT scanning. 7. If patients received hormone therapy, then it must have started more than 8 weeks prior to implantation of fiducials. 8. Patients on hormonal therapy at the time of simulation must remain on hormone therapy until their radiation course is complete. 9. Patients must understand and sign informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients who are not candidates for trans-rectal prostate biopsy or cannot tolerate placement of three fiducial prostate markers. 2. Patients with an estimated prostate volume of less than 20 cc. 3. Patients who have had prior prostate surgery or are planned to have prostate surgery for prostate cancer. 4. Patients who have had previous radiation therapy to the pelvis. 5. Patients who have had prior prostate brachytherapy implant or who have a planned course of therapy using prostate brachytherapy (permanent seeds or high dose rate). 6. Patients with a body habitus that the CT bore of the CT/Linac treatment machine cannot accommodate (i.e. height greater than 6' 3" or body weight greater than 300 pounds). 7. Patients on anticoagulant medication (e.g., coumadin, clopidogrel, low-molecular weight heparin) other than aspirin will not be eligible. Patients on aspirin should discontinue aspirin 7 days prior to fiducial placement and for 5 days afterward. 8. Patients with hip prostheses will not be eligible.