Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Prostate Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of prostate cancer meeting 1 of the following criteria:

  • Stage T3b/T4 disease or radiological or pathological pelvic nodal metastases
  • Localized disease (stage pT2-T4) with > 30% estimated risk of pelvic nodal metastases
  • High-risk (Gleason score ≥ 8 or ≥ 2 risk factors) or very high-risk disease according to the National Collaborative Cancer Network (NCCN)
  • Has undergone prostatectomy AND has stage T2-T3a, N0 disease with extensive high-risk disease (Gleason score ≥ 8) or seminal vesicle or lymph node involvement
• Candidate for radical radiotherapy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• No inflammatory bowel disease or other small bowel disease

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• No prior pelvic radiotherapy or surgery (excluding prostatectomy)