A Randomized Trial of External Beam Radiotherapy Versus Cryoablation in Patients With Localized Prostate Cancer

Men with newly diagnosed localized prostate cancer were randomly assigned to cryoablation or external beam radiotherapy (median dose 68 Gy). All patients received neoadjuvant antiandrogen therapy. The primary endpoint was disease progression at 36 months based on a trifecta definition of failure: (a) radiological evidence of metastatic disease or b) initiation of further antineoplastic therapy or c) biochemical failure). Two definitions of biochemical failure were used: 1) rising PSA with a final value >1.0 ng/mL and 2) rise above PSA nadir + 2 ng/mL. Secondary endpoints were overall survival, disease-specific survival, and positive prostate biopsy at 36 months.