Retrospective cohort study of bowel disorder incidence and rectal spacer use in patients undergoing radiotherapy for prostate cancer

The polyethylene glycol-based hydrogel spacer (PHS) system temporaily separates the rectum from the prostate in patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT) for prostate cancer (PCa). A retrospective cohort study using 4 datasets of adult patients undergoing RT for PCa from 2015 to 2021 in clinical practice, evaluated the impact of PHS use on incidence of all-cause bowel disorders. In this cohort study of 261.906 patients (9.6% receiving PHS) use of PHS was associated with lower incidence of bowel disorders and related procedures over 4 years compared with patients not receiving PHS. Incidence of disorders and procedures among patients who received a PHS was similar to that of the age-matched general population without PCa and RT. The authors conclude that evidence from clinical practice data suggests that PHS use improves patient outcomes and reduces likelihood of bowel disorders and related procedures, in concordance with clinical trial data.