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've included this ongoing research to give examples of prostate cancer research.

Research into active surveillance

Prostate cancer can grow slowly and may never cause symptoms. Some people have regular monitoring and don't have treatment straight away. This is active surveillance. 

Researchers are looking at including regular MRI scans as part of the monitoring. They are comparing this with the usual monitoring tests.

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 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 if it's better to treat just the prostate or include nearby lymph nodes in the treatment
• 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 if your cancer has spread and is getting worse despite hormone treatment. 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. It attaches to the PSMA on the prostate cells. It then enters the cell and kills it.

Researchers are looking at which patients will benefit the most from this treatment. They also want to know the best time to give Lutetium-177-PSMA.

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

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 and immunotherapy drugs

Targeted cancer drugs work by targeting the differences in cancer cells that help them to grow and survive. Immunotherapy uses our immune system to fight cancer. It works by helping the immune system recognise and attack cancer cells. 

Targeted and immunotherapy drugs that prostate cancer researchers are looking into include:

• pembrolizumab

• capivasertib

• AZD5305

• saruparib

• opevesostat (MK-5684)

• olaparib

Research into high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and other ablative treatments

HIFU uses high frequency sound waves to destroy cancer cells. The waves create heat that destroys prostate cancer. It is a type of ablative treatment.

You might have HIFU treatment to the whole prostate gland. Or your doctor might only treat the area of the prostate where the cancer is. This is called focal HIFU. Researchers are looking at focal HIFU for prostate cancer. They are also looking at other ablative treatments including:

• irreversible electroporation (IRE)
• photodynamic therapy (PDT )

Research into living with prostate cancer

Researchers are interested in the quality of life of men with prostate cancer. Many clinical trials into treatments are also looking at the side effects and how treatments affect men. Researchers are also looking into the mental wellbeing and quality of life of men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Researchers are also looking at how exercise affects men with prostate cancer. They want to know whether:

• men feel they benefit from an exercise programme
• exercise helps to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back