The literature search identified 110 articles; of these 20, involving a total of 4,682 patients, met the inclusion criteria. No studies using heavy particle radiation, altered fractionation RT schedules or adjuvant hormonal therapy met the inclusion criteria.
Conventional RT: the biochemical control rates ranged from a low of 0% with a pre-treatment PSA level of greater than 50 ng/mL, to a high of 93% with a pre-treatment PSA level of less than 4 ng/mL.
3D RT: the biochemical control rates ranged from a low of 20% with a pre-treatment PSA level of greater than 20 ng/mL, to a high of 90% with a pre-treatment PSA level of less than 4 ng/mL.
Brachytherapy: the biochemical control rates ranged from a low of 32% with a pre-treatment PSA level of greater than 10 ng/mL, to a high of 100% with a pre-treatment PSA level of less than 4 ng/mL.
All RT combined: the biochemical control rates ranged from a low of 8% with a pre-treatment PSA level of 20 to 50 ng/mL, to a high of 100% with a pre-treatment PSA level of less than 4 ng/mL.