Assessment of rectal toxicities after radiation therapy for localized prostate cancer: experience of the Akanda Cancer Institute in Gabon

Background: The purpose was to evaluate the incidence of acute and late rectal toxicities and their correlation with the clinical and dosimetric parameters of patients who underwent curative radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer at the Akanda Cancer Institute, Gabon. Materials and methods: Between 2013 and 2021, a cohort of 46 patients with clinically localized stage cT1c-T4 prostate cancer was treated with three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) at the national cancer institute with doses ranging from 66 to 80 Gy. Post-radiation gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities were classified and graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.0. Results: In our study, 17.4% (8/46) developed acute GI. Grades 1 and 3 acute GI complications were seen in 13.0% (6/46) and 4.3% (2/46), respectively. No patient developed acute grade 2 or grade higher than 3 complications. Late GI side effects were limited. The median time to the development of late GI Grade ≥ 1 toxicities was 12 months (range: 9-19 months). 10.9% (5/46) had experience late GI. Among them, grade 1 and 2 were seen in 6.5% (3/46), and 4.3% (2/46), respectively. There was no grade 3 or higher complications. Statistically, we did not find any correlation between the presence of rectal toxicity and clinical factors or the presence of comorbidity. On the dosimetric level, the Mann-Whitney statistical test found a correlation between the presence of late GI toxicity and rectal volume irradiated at the prescribed dose (p = 0.02). Conclusion: Despite the high radiation doses involved, our results showed an acceptable complication rate.