Research into treatment for prostate cancer
Before new treatments can be introduced, they need to be tested thoroughly. This is so we can be sure that they work and that they are safe.
Go to Cancer Research UK’s clinical trials database if you are looking for a trial for prostate cancer in the UK. You need to talk to your specialist if there are any trials that you might be able to take part in.
Some of the trials on this page have now stopped recruiting people. It takes time before the results are available. This is because the trial team follow the patients for a period of time and collect and analyse the results. We have included this ongoing research to give examples of the type of research being carried out on prostate cancer.
Research into surgery for prostate cancer
Doctors can remove localised prostate cancer with surgery. You usually have a radical prostatectomy. Some people have a higher risk of the cancer coming back after treatment. So doctors are looking at ways to improve treatment for this group of people.
Researchers are:
- trying treatments before surgery
- studying whether it's better to remove just the prostate or to remove the prostate and nearby lymph nodes as well
- finding ways to predict who might have complication or recurrence after surgery
Research into radiotherapy for prostate cancer
Radiotherapy is one of the main treatments for prostate cancer. Researchers are looking at ways to improve it and reduce the side effects. This includes:
- testing different types of radiotherapy with hormone therapy for
metastatic 
prostate cancer - studying whether it's better to treat just the prostate or include nearby lymph nodes in the treatment area
- looking for the best ways to treat
recurrent prostate cancer after radiotherapy - finding ways to protect healthy tissue - for example using a device called ProSpare
- giving shorter radiotherapy courses, to see how this might have less environmental impact
Lutetium-177-PSMA for metastatic prostate cancer
Lutetium-177-PSMA is a type of internal radiotherapy. You might have it for prostate cancer that has spread and is getting worse despite having hormones or surgery to remove the testicles. This is castration resistant metastatic prostate cancer.
PSMA stands for Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen. PSMA is found on the surface of prostate cells.
In the laboratory, doctors attach a radioactive substance to the PSMA. This radioactive treatment circulates through your body in the bloodstream and attaches to the PSMA on the prostate cells. It then enters the cell and kills it.
A clinical trial found that Lutetium-177-PSMA can help some men with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer.
Research into hormone therapy
Prostate cancer depends on the male hormone testosterone for its growth. Hormone therapies block or lower the levels of testosterone. You might have it to lower the risk of your cancer coming back after treatment. Or to shrink or slow the growth of prostate cancer.
Researchers are looking into:
- a short course of hormone treatment for men having active surveillance
- hormone therapy before surgery to remove localised prostate cancer
- combining hormone therapy with other treatments
Research into chemotherapy
can help control cancer that has spread. This is called metastatic or advanced prostate cancer.
Researchers are looking at how well chemotherapy works in combination with other treatments. Chemotherapy drugs that doctors are looking into include:
-
carboplatin
-
docetaxel
-
cabazitaxel
Research into targeted cancer drugs
Targeted cancer drugs are drugs which change the way that the cells work. They can boost the body’s to fight off or kill cancer cells. Or they can block signals that tell cancer cells to grow.
Targeted drugs that researchers are looking into include:
- pembrolizumab
- capivasertib
- AZD5305
- rucaparib
- nivolumab
- ipilimumab
Research into high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU)
HIFU uses high frequency sound waves to destroy cancer cells. The waves create heat that destroys prostate cancer.
Researchers are looking at only treating the areas of cancer in the prostate. They want to find out how well it works and how it affects men’s quality of life.
Research into the quality of life of men with prostate cancer
More and more men are surviving prostate cancer. So researchers are interested in the quality of life of men who finish their treatment. They want to see which men are more likely to have side effects from their treatment.
They are also looking into the mental wellbeing and quality of life of men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Research into exercise
There is research going on looking at whether increasing the amount of exercise improves your quality of life and helps to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back.
