Hydrogel Spacer Use During Radiotherapy For Prostate Cancer

For low- or intermediate-risk prostate cancer, radiation therapy is an option. Because the rectum lies in close proximity to the prostate, the risk of rectal toxicity is high. One approach is to push the rectum away from the prostate, increasing the space between the 2 and reducing the radiation dose to the rectum. A variety of biomaterials, including polyethylene glycol hydrogels (eg, SpaceOAR™System), hyaluronic acid hydrogels (Barrigel Injectable Gel), or absorbable balloon implants (BioProtect Balloon Implant™ System), have been evaluated as perirectal spacers.