Tetrafecta radiation therapy for prostate cancer

Cover Page

Cite item

Full Text

Open Access Open Access
Restricted Access Access granted
Restricted Access Subscription or Fee Access

Abstract

The presented work formulates the basic principles of a new concept of planning radiation therapy for prostate cancer which allows to achieve high functional and oncological treatment results. It is based on a temporary change in the mutual topography of the irradiated gland and adjacent normal tissues due to perineal implantation of a paraprostatic biodegradable spacer. Formation of an additional distance between the prostate and the rectum allows not only to significantly reduce the risks of post-radiation rectal toxicity but also ensures safe local escalation of the dose, as well as its optimal spatial distribution in relation to other critical organs. This approach was named tetrafecta radiation therapy.

About the authors

Roman V. Novikov

N.N. Petrov National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of Russia; S.M. Kirov Military Medical Academy, Ministry of Defense of Russia

Author for correspondence.
Email: novikov-spb@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1873-1293
Russian Federation, 68 Leningradskaya St., Pesochnyy, Saint Petersburg 197758; 6 Akademika Lebedeva St., Saint Petersburg 194044

O. I. Ponomareva

St. Petersburg Clinical Scientific and Practical Center for Specialized Types of Medical Care (Oncology) named after N.P. Napalkov

Email: novikov-spb@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8314-3722
Russian Federation, 68 Leningradskaya St., Pesochnyy, Saint Petersburg 197758

E. S. Kruglova

N.N. Petrov National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of Russia

Email: novikov-spb@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0005-5645-8576
Russian Federation, 68 Leningradskaya St., Pesochnyy, Saint Petersburg 197758

A. S. Katunin

Pokrovskaya City Hospital

Email: novikov-spb@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3676-6246
Russian Federation, 85 Bolshoy Prospekt Vasilyevskogo Ostrova, Saint Petersburg 199106

V. V. Protoshchak

S.M. Kirov Military Medical Academy, Ministry of Defense of Russia

Email: novikov-spb@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4996-2927
Russian Federation, 6 Akademika Lebedeva St., Saint Petersburg 194044

S. N. Novikov

N.N. Petrov National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of Russia

Email: novikov-spb@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7185-1967
Russian Federation, 68 Leningradskaya St., Pesochnyy, Saint Petersburg 197758

References

  1. Bianco F.J. Jr., Scardino P.T., Eastham J.A. Radical prostatectomy: long-term cancer control and recovery of sexual and urinary function (“trifecta”). Urology 2005;66(5 Suppl):83–94. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2005.06.116
  2. Patel V.R., Sivaraman A., Coelho R.F. et al. Pentafecta: a new concept for reporting outcomes of robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Eur Urol 2011;59(5):702–7. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2011.01.032
  3. Mahmoud O., Al-Nader M., Püllen L. et al. The current role of pentafecta in the reporting of radical cystectomy outcomes: a scoping review. Transl Androl Urol 2024;13(6):1037–48. doi: 10.21037/tau-23-593
  4. Zhang C., Du J., Liao W. et al. Assessing pentafecta achievement and survival of retroperitoneal robotic partial nephrectomy for anterior tumors: An update on the outcomes of a long-term follow-up. Urol Oncol 2025:S1078-1439(25)00285-6. doi: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2025.07.027
  5. Tétreault-Laflamme A., Zilli T., Meissner A. et al. The Quadrella: a novel approach to analyzing optimal outcomes after permanent seed prostate brachytherapy. Radiother Oncol 2014;111(1):110–3. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2014.01.017
  6. Coquet J.B., Delage F., Fourcade A. et al. Evaluation of the “Quadrella” at 3 years: new index to assess functional and oncological performance specific to prostate brachytherapy. Brachytherapy 2018;17(5):782–7. doi: 10.1016/j.brachy.2018.05.007
  7. Tremblay G., Nguyen T.A., Marolleau J. et al. Impact of age on the Quadrella index assessing oncological and functional results after prostate brachytherapy: A 6-year analysis. J Contemp Brachytherapy 2023;15(2):89–95. doi: 10.5114/jcb.2023.127049
  8. Новиков Р.В., Пономарева О.И., Быкова Е.С. и др. Стереотаксическая лучевая терапия рака предстательной железы: state of the art radical treatment. Экспериментальная и клиническая урология 2024;17(4):37–49. doi: 10.29188/2222-8543-2024-17-4-37-49 Novikov R.V., Ponomareva O.I., Bykova E.S. et al. Stereotactic radiation therapy for prostate cancer: state of the art radical treatment. Eksperimentalnaya i klinicheskaya urologiya = Experimental and Clinical Urology 2024;17(4):37–49. (In Russ.). doi: 10.29188/2222-8543-2024-17-4-37-49
  9. Pucar D., Hricak H., Shukla-Dave A. et al. Clinically significant prostate cancer local recurrence after radiation therapy occurs at the site of primary tumor: magnetic resonance imaging and step-section pathology evidence. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2007;69(1):62–9. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2007.03.065
  10. Vance W., Tucker S.L., De Crevoisier R. et al. The predictive value of 2-year posttreatment biopsy after prostate cancer radiotherapy for eventual biochemical outcome. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2007;67(3):828–33. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2006.09.027
  11. Crook J.M., Malone S., Perry G. et al. Twenty-four-month postradiation prostat biopsies are strongly predictive of 7-year disease-survival: results from a Canadian randomized trial. Cancer 2009;115(3):673–9. doi: 10.1002/cncr.24020
  12. Krauss D.J., Hu C., Bhary J.P. et al. The importance of local control in early stage prostate cancer: outcomes of patients with a positive post-radiotherapy biopsy treated on RTOG 94–08. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2015;92(4):863–73. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2015.03.017
  13. Zelefsky M.J., Goldman D.A., Hopkins M. et al. Predictors for post-treatment biopsy outcomes after prostate stereotactic body radiotherapy. Radiother Oncol 2021;159(1):33–8. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2021.02.008
  14. Kim D.W., Cho L.C., Straka C. et al. Predictors of rectal tolerance observed in a dose-escalated phase 1-2 trial of stereotactic body radiation therapy for prostate cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2014;89(3):509–17. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2014.03.012
  15. Nicholls L., Suh Y.E., Chapman E. et al. Stereotactic radiotherapy with focal boost for intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer: Initial results of the SPARC trial. Clin Transl Radiat Oncol 2020;25:88–93. doi: 10.1016/j.ctro.2020.10.004
  16. Morris B.A., Holmes E.E., Anger N.J. et al. Toxicity and patient-reported quality-of-life outcomes after prostate stereotactic body radiation therapy with focal boost to magnetic resonance imaging-identified prostate cancer lesions: results of a phase 2 trial. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2023;117(3):613–23. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.05.004
  17. Zapatero A., Castro P., Roch M. et al. Functional imaging guided stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) with focal dose escalation and bladder trigone sparing for intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer: study protocol for phase II safo trial. Radiat Oncol 2024;19(1):54. doi: 10.1186/s13014-024-02440-7
  18. Deodato F., Ferro M., Bonome P. et al. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SIB-VMAT technique) to dominant intraprostatic lesion (DIL) for localized prostate cancer: a dose-escalation trial (DESTROY-4). Strahlenther Onkol 2024;200(3):239–49. doi: 10.1007/s00066-023-02189-0
  19. Wang M., Xing R., Wang L. et al. Mechanisms underlying prostate cancer sensitivity to reactive oxygen species: overcoming radiotherapy resistance and recent clinical advances. Cancer Biol Med 2025;22(7):747–61. doi: 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2024.0584
  20. Новиков Р.В., Новиков С.Н. Технологии снижения лучевой токсичности у больных раком предстательной железы: спейсеры – простое и эффективное решение. Онкоурология 2021;17(3):64–77. doi: 10.17650/1726-9776-2021-17-3-64-77 Novikov R.V., Novikov S.N. Technologies to reduce radiation toxicity in prostate cancer patients: spacers – a simple and effective solution. Onkourologiya = Cancer Urology 2021;17(3):64–77. (In Russ.). doi: 10.17650/1726-9776-2021-17-3-64-77
  21. Tsurugai Y., Takeda A., Sanuki N. et al. Toxicity profile and clinical outcomes of stereotactic body radiotherapy with a focal boost without fiducials or perirectal hydrogel spacer for localized prostate cancer. Strahlenther Onkol 2025;201(8):779–87. doi: 10.1007/s00066-024-02333-4
  22. Repka M.C., Creswell M., Lischalk J.W. et al. Rationale for utilization of hydrogel rectal spacers in dose escalated sbrt for the treatment of unfavorable risk prostate cancer. Front Oncol 2022;12:860848. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.860848
  23. Prada P.J., Fernández J., Martinez A.A. et al. Transperineal injection of hyaluronic acid in anterior perirectal fat to decrease rectal toxicity from radiation delivered with intensity modulated brachytherapy or EBRT for prostate cancer patients. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2007;69(1):95–102. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2007.02.034
  24. Lippens J., Willems L., Boychak O. et al. Implantable rectal spacers in prostate cancer radiation therapy: a systematic review. Pract Radiat Oncol 2025;15(5):e460–83. doi: 10.1016/j.prro.2025.03.009
  25. Folkert M.R., Sato R., Yu J.B. et al. Bowel disorder incidence and rectal spacer use in patients with prostate cancer undergoing radiotherapy. JAMA Netw Open 2025;8(3):e250491. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.0491
  26. Biodegradable spacer insertion to reduce rectal toxicity during radiotherapy for prostate cancer Interventional procedures guidance [IPG752] Published: 07 February 2023. Available at: www.nice.org.uk/ guidance/ipg752/chapter/3-Committee-considerations
  27. Schaeffer E.M., Srinivas S., Adra N. et al. NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Prostate Cancer, Version 3.2024. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 2024;22(3):140–50. doi: 10.6004/jnccn.2024.0019
  28. Creta M., Shariat S.F., Marra G. et al. Local salvage therapies in patients with radio-recurrent prostate cancer following external beam radiotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 2025;28(3):578–91. doi: 10.1038/s41391-024-00883-3
  29. Lazrek A., Finocchi Ghersi S., Petre A. et al. Case report of the first use of a hydrogel rectal spacer for prostate cancer reirradiation via LDR brachytherapy: applications and technical notes. Front Oncol 2025;15:1494304. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2025.1494304
  30. Ozyigit G., Hurmuz P., Akinci D. et al. Hyaluronic acid spacer in focal prostate reirradiation: A single centre experience. Cancer Radiother 2020;24(8):805–11. doi: 10.1016/j.canrad.2020.03.009
  31. Yates A.H., Dempsey P.J., Power J.W. et al. Rectal complications following SpaceOAR insertion after prior pelvic radiation. BJR Case Rep 2025;11(2):uaaf013. doi: 10.1093/bjrcr/uaaf013
  32. Новиков Р.В., Живулина Т.В., Сысоева В.В. и др. Методологические аспекты имплантации отечественного парапростатического спейсера на основе стабилизированной гиалуроновой кислоты неживотного происхождения. Онкоурология 2024;20(1):67–78. DOI. 10.17650/ 1726-9776-2024-20-1-67-78 Novikov R.V., Zhivulina T.V., Sysoeva V.V. et al. Methodological aspects of implantation of a Russian prostate-rectum spacer based on stabilized hyaluronic acid of non-animal origin. Onkourologiya = Cancer Urology 2024;20(1):67–78. (In Russ.). doi: 10.17650/1726-9776-2024-20-1-67-78
  33. Новиков Р.В., Карандашов В.К., Живулина Т.В. и др. Непосредственные результаты промежностной имплантации парапростатического биодеградируемого спейсера. Онкоурология 2025;21(1):35–49. DOI. 10.17650/1726-9776-2025-21-1-35-49 Novikov R.V., Karandashov V.K., Zhivulina T.V. et al. Immediate results of perineal implantation of a prostate-rectum biodegradable spacer. Onkourologiya = Cancer Urology 2025;21(1):35–49. (In Russ.). doi: 10.17650/1726-9776-2025-21-1-35-49
  34. Waterloos M., Martins F., Verla W. et al. Current Management of Membranous Urethral Strictures Due to Radiation. Front Surg 2021;8:635060. doi: 10.3389/fsurg.2021.635060
  35. Chetiyawardana G., Chadwick E., Kordolaimi S., Sundar S. Bladder trigone sparing radiotherapy in prostate cancer treatment. Radiography (Lond) 2024;30(4):1201–9. doi: 10.1016/j.radi.2024.06.004
  36. Leeman J., Chen Y.H., Catalano P. et al. Radiation dose to the intraprostatic urethra correlates strongly with urinary toxicity after prostate stereotactic body radiation therapy: a combined analysis of 23 prospective clinical trials. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2022;112(1):75–82. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.06.037
  37. Harvey M., Ong W.L., Chao M. et al. Comprehensive review of the use of hydrogel spacers prior to radiation therapy for prostate cancer. BJU Int 2023;131(3):280–7. DOI: 10.1111/ bju. 15821
  38. Новиков Р.В., Новиков С.Н., Протощак В.В. и др. Радиационно-индуцированная эректильная дисфункция у больных раком предстательной железы: современный взгляд на патогенез. Вестник рентгенологии и радиологии 2021;102(1):66–74. doi: 10.20862/0042-4676-2021-102-1-66-74 Novikov R.V., Novikov S.N., Protoshchak V.V. et al. Radiation-induced erectile dysfunction in patients with prostate cancer: a modern view on pathogenesis. Vestnik rentgenologii i radiologii = Bulletin of Roentgenology and Radiology 2021;102(1):66–74. (In Russ.). doi: 10.20862/0042-4676-2021-102-1-66-74
  39. Spratt D.E., Lee J.Y., Dess R.T. et al. Vessel-sparing radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer to preserve erectile function: a single-arm phase 2 trial. Eur Urol 2017;72(4):617–24. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2017.02.007
  40. Samlali H. Udrescu C., Lapierre A. et al. Prospective evaluation of a specific technique of sexual function preservation in external beam radiotherapy for prostate cancer. Br J Radiol 2017;90(1078):20160877. doi: 10.1259/bjr.20160877
  41. Achard V., Zilli T., Lamanna G. et al. Urethra-sparing prostate cancer stereotactic body radiation therapy: sexual function and radiation dose to the penile bulb, the crura, and the internal pudendal arteries from a randomized phase 2 trial. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2023;S0360-3016(23)08307-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.12.037
  42. Chardon A., Udrescu C., Beneux A. et al. Erectile function preservation after radiotherapy using a dose-optimization approach on sexual structures for localized prostate cancer. Cancer Radiother 2024;28(2):182–7. doi: 10.1016/j.canrad.2023.08.010
  43. Новиков Р.В., Лясович Г.А., Пономарева О.И. и др. Анатомические аспекты сосудосберегающей лучевой терапии рака предстательной железы. Онкоурология 2024;20(4):33–43. DOI. 10.17650/1726-9776-2024-20-4-33-43 Novikov R.V., Lyasovich G.A., Ponomareva O.I. et al. Anatomical aspects of vessel-sparing radiation therapy for prostate cancer. Onkourologiya = Cancer Urology 2024;20(4):33–43. (In Russ.). doi: 10.17650/1726-9776-2024-20-4-33-43
  44. Новиков Р.В., Лясович Г.А., Быкова Е.С. и др. Дозиметрические аспекты сосудоcберегающей стереотаксической лучевой терапии рака предстательной железы: проспективное симуляционное исследование. Лучевая диагностика и терапия 2025;16(1):95–106. DOI. 10.22328/2079-5343-2025-16-1-95-106 Novikov R.V., Lyasovich G.A., Bykova E.S., et al. Dosimetric aspects of vessel-sparing stereotactic radiotherapy for prostate cancer: a prospective simulation study. Luchevaya diagnostika i terapiya = Radiation Diagnostics and Therapy 2025;16(1):95–106. (In Russ.). DOI. 10.22328/2079-5343-2025-16-1-95-106
  45. Pinkawa M., Berneking V., Schlenter M. et al. Quality of life after radiation therapy for prostate cancer with a hydrogel spacer: 5-year results. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2017;99(2):374–7. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2017.05.035
  46. Hamstra D.A., Mariados N., Sylvester J. et al. Sexual quality of life following prostate intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with a rectal/prostate spacer: secondary analysis of a phase 3 trial. Pract Radiat Oncol 2018;8(1):e7–15. doi: 10.1016/j.prro.2017.07.008
  47. Seymour Z.A., Pinkawa M., Daignault-Newton S. et al. A pooled long-term follow-up after radiotherapy for prostate cancer with and without a rectal hydrogel spacer: impact of hydrogel on decline in sexual quality of life. Front Oncol 2023;13:1239104. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1239104
  48. Hankins R.A., Sato R., Mehta P. et al. Real-world U.S. county-level analysis of erectile dysfunction diagnosis following radiation therapy for localized prostate cancer: the impact of rectal spacer utilization. J Urol 2025;213(5S):e1327. doi: 10.1097/01.JU.0001110184.48142.9e.03
  49. Saigal K., Schofield D., Nguyen N. et al. SpaceOAR hydrogel improves neurovascular bundle dosimetry in MRI guided HDR brachytherapy. Brachytherapy 2019;18(3 Suppl):S63–4. doi: 10.1016/j.brachy.2019.04.134
  50. Hwang M.E., Mayeda M., Shaish H. et al. Dosimetric feasibility of neurovascular bundle-sparing stereotactic body radiotherapy with periprostatic hydrogel spacer for localized prostate cancer to preserve erectile function. Br J Radiol 2021;94(1119):20200433. doi: 10.1259/bjr.20200433
  51. Карандашов В.К., Новиков Р.В., Круглова Е.С. и др. Роль промежностной имплантации парапростатического спейсера в сохранении постлучевого эректильного статуса. Вопросы онкологии 2025;71(5). doi: 10.37469/0507-3758-2025-71-5-OF-2234 Karandashov V.K., Novikov R.V., Kruglova E.S. et al. The role of perineal implantation of a paraprostatic spacer in maintaining post-radiation erectile status. Voprosy onkologii = Issues in Oncology 2025;71(5). (In Russ.). doi: 10.37469/0507-3758-2025-71-5-OF-2234
  52. Walsh P.C., Donker P.J. Impotence following radical prostatectomy: insight into etiology and prevention. J Urol 1982;128(3):492–7. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5347(17)53012-8

Supplementary files

Supplementary Files
Action
1. JATS XML

Copyright (c) 2026 ABV-Press

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

СМИ зарегистрировано Федеральной службой по надзору в сфере связи, информационных технологий и массовых коммуникаций (Роскомнадзор).
Регистрационный номер и дата принятия решения о регистрации СМИ: серия ПИ № ФС 77-36986 от  21.07.2009.