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Radiation therapy (RT) for prostate cancer (PCa) is a highly effective therapy modality, offering a particular advantage for patients who are unsuitable for surgical treatment of PCa because of advanced age or comorbidities. The Geriatric Assessment is defined as a multidimensional diagnostic process used to measure age-associated parameters that could help to identify vulnerable patients who are at risk of higher radiation toxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between age-associated characteristics and acute radiation induced side effects.

A total of 308 patients treated with primary curative RT for PCa were enrolled in our prospective study. A GA consisting of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), Nikolaus Scale for Social Situation (SOS), Geriatric Depression Scale, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), Timed Up and Go (TUG), Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and survey of polypharmacy (P) was performed before initiation of irradiation. Genitourinary (GU) and gastrointestinal (GI) acute toxicity was classified according to EORTC/RTOG scale.

Radiation induced acute toxicity grade ≥2 was detected in 38 patients (11,8%), GU toxicity grade ≥2 in 35 patients (10,9%), and GI toxicity grade ≥2 in 8 patients (2,5%), respectively.
The pre-treatment CKI, ADL, and GDS significantly correlated with overall toxicity grade ≥2 (p=0.029 and p=0.050, and p=0.043). Furthermore, statistical analysis revealed a significant association of the pre-treatment ADL with GU toxicity grade ≥2 (p=0.046) as well as of TUG with GI toxicity grade ≥2 (p=0.032).

The results of our study showed a significant relationship between comorbidities, mood state, reduced functionality,and mobility and acute radiation induced side effects of RT for PCa. The tools of GA might be helpful in detecting unidentified health problems that influence the risk of radiation induced toxicity.