Proton beam boost: could fewer sessions mean better prostate cancer control?

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Patient age is ≥ 18 years 2. Pathologically (histologically or cytologically) proven diagnosis of prostatic adenocarcinoma within 180 days of registration. 3. Patient's with intermediate to high risk prostate cancer and must be recommended to undergo pelvic as well as prostatic irradiation. 4. History/physical examination (to include at a minimum digital rectal examination of the prostate and examination of the skeletal system and abdomen) within 90 days prior to registration. 5. Clinically negative lymph nodes as established by imaging (pelvic ± abdominal CT or MR), (but not by nodal sampling, or dissection) within 120 days prior to registration. • Patients with lymph nodes equivocal or questionable by imaging are eligible if the nodes are ≤ 1.5 cm. 6. No evidence of bone metastases (M0) on bone scan within 120 days prior to registration. • Equivocal bone scan findings are allowed if plain films (or CT or MRI) are negative for metastasis. 7. Baseline serum PSA value performed within 12 weeks (90 days) prior to registration. 8. ECOG Performance Status 0-1 9. Patient must be able to provide study specific informed consent prior to study entry. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Evidence of distant metastases 2. Regional lymph node involvement 3. Previous radical surgery (prostatectomy), cryosurgery, or HIFU (High-intensity focused ultrasound) for prostate cancer 4. Previous pelvic irradiation or prostate brachytherapy 5. Planned prostate brachytherapy boost 6. Previous or concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy for prostate cancer 7. Severe acute or chronic medical or psychiatric condition or laboratory abnormality that may increase the risk associated with study participation or study drug administration, or may interfere with the interpretation of study results, and in the judgment of the investigator would make the subject inappropriate for entry into this study. 8. Patients are excluded if they have a history of autoimmune disease that, in the opinion of the treating physician would be a contraindication to pelvic radiation (e.g., active systemic lupus, progressive scleroderma) 9. Patients receiving full-dose anticoagulation or clopidogrel • Patients taking 81 mg Aspirin po daily may are still eligible for the study 10. Patients with a history of prior small bowel ulceration