This phase III trial compares the effects of radiation therapy using RapidPlan, trademark, knowledge-based planning to human-driven planning in treating patients with prostate cancer. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Successful delivery of radiation requires planning to develop a treatment plan for how and where the radiation is to be delivered. RapidPlan is a knowledge-based treatment planning tool that automatically creates an optimal treatment plan based on identified targets and organs at risk for radiation exposure. Human-driven treatment planning by a dosimetrist, the current standard of care, requires significant resources and time and may vary within and among radiation centers. Giving radiation therapy with RapidPlan knowledge-based planning may have similar or less side effects compared to human-driven planning in treating patients with prostate cancer.
Patients must be at least 18 years old
Histologically confirmed prostate cancer
Clinical or pathologic stages T1c-T3b, Nx or N0-1, M0-1 (American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC] criteria 8th edition [Ed])
Planned definitive dose radiotherapy to the prostate or prostate bed
Previous pelvic radiation > 5 Gy
Planned delivery of radiotherapy to pelvic lymph nodes
Planned delivery of brachytherapy of the prostate
Active rectal diverticulitis, Crohn's disease affecting the rectum, or ulcerative colitis (non-active diverticulitis and Crohn's disease not affecting the rectum are allowed)