
"Health wise I am feeling great. I am a big supporter of trials - it allows new treatments and drugs to be brought in.”
This trial looked at a drug called ipilimumab after radiotherapy for prostate cancer that has spread to the bones.
Doctors usually treat prostate cancer that has spread with a chemotherapy drug called docetaxel. But sometimes the cancer stops responding or continues to grow despite having this treatment. So researchers are looking for ways to improve treatment. In this trial, they looked at radiotherapy to the bones followed by a drug called ipilimumab.
Ipilimumab is a type of biological therapy called a monoclonal antibody. It may help the body’s to attack cancer cells.
The aims of this trial were to find out
The trial team found that the combination of radiotherapy and ipilimumab was not any better than radiotherapy alone for this group of men.
The trial recruited men who had already had docetaxel chemotherapy for prostate cancer that had spread to their bones.
799 men took part and
Following the initial treatment, the men continued to have ipilimumab or the dummy drug once every 3 months to try and keep the cancer under control for longer. Doctors call this ‘maintenance treatment’.
The trial team looked at the average length of time the men lived. They found there was no difference between the 2 different groups.
The most common side effects of ipilimumab were diarrhoea, tiredness, pain and irritation to the bowel and a drop in red blood cells causing tiredness.
The trial concluded that the combination of radiotherapy and ipilimumab was no better than radiotherapy alone for this group of men.
We have based this summary on information from the team who ran the trial. The information they sent us has been reviewed by independent specialists () and published in a medical journal. The figures we quote above were provided by the trial team. We have not analysed the data ourselves.
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Dr Santhanam Sundar
Bristol-Myers Squibb
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
"Health wise I am feeling great. I am a big supporter of trials - it allows new treatments and drugs to be brought in.”