Proton Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Prostate Cancer

Detailed Description PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. Feasibility of proton radiation therapy (RT) using standard fractionation. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine freedom from failure (FFF) (vs. biochemical/clinical progression-free survival) with standard fractionation. II. To determine the incidence of grade 2 or greater GU and GI toxicity with this regimen at 6 months, 2 years and 3 years. III. To assess quality of life issues following completion of radiation therapy at 6 months and at 2 years. IV. To assess incidence of impotence after the use of proton therapy at 3 years. V. To determine freedom from biochemical failure (BF) at 5 years. VI. To determine clinical failure: local and/or distant at 5 years. VII. To determine salvage androgen deprivation (SAD) use at 5 years. VIII. To determine progression free survival: using clinical, biochemical and SAD as events at 5 years. IX. To determine overall survival at 5 years. X. To determine disease-specific survival at 5 years. XI. Estimate prostate and normal structures movement during RT with the use of scans. XII. Correlate pathologic and radiologic findings with outcomes at 5 years. XIII. Correlate PSA and free PSA levels with outcomes at 5 years. XIV. Correlate testosterone levels and variation with proton therapy and outcomes at 5 years. XV. Develop a quality assurance process for proton prostate therapy. OUTLINE: Patients undergo proton radiotherapy once daily 5 days a week for approximately 9 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed at 3 months, every 6 months for 5 years, and then annually thereafter.