Moderate hypofractionation and stereotactic body radiation therapy in the treatment of prostate cancer

For prostate cancer radiation therapy, daily sessions spanning approximately 2 months has been considered the standard of care for patients managed with curative intent. In recent years, data has emerged which supports the use of higher dose per fraction schemes leading to a reduced duration of treatment. This form of radiation-generally termed moderate hypofractionation or stereotactic body radiation therapy-increasingly appears to be a safe and effective alternative to the conventional course. This review summarizes salient data from the literature on outcomes, toxicities, and future directions for this innovative strategy of care.