Radiotherapy Trial
Scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research’s Everyman Centre are leading a national trial which is recruiting over 2000 men with prostate cancer- the largest international prostate radiotherapy trial.
Professor David Dearnaley has led the development of an intensity modulated radiotherapy technique for the study which shapes the radiation beam to the exact treatment area. This means that larger doses of radiotherapy can be delivered precise to the cancer whilst reducing damage to the surrounding healthy tissue. The study compares 4 week and 7.5 week treatment schedules to test the hypothesis that prostate cancer is highly fractionation sensitive.
Recruitment is open until 2012 and over 30 hospitals across the UK are presently involved with international contributions from New Zealand, Switzerland and the Republic of Ireland expected in 2009. For more information on the trial and eligibility criteria, please visit www.cancerresearchuk.org
In addition, Professor Dearnaley’s ICR team have developed an intensity modulated radiotherapy technique to treat the pelvic lymph nodes as well as the prostate. Phase II studies are nearing completion which show a very low level of treatment-related side-effects and a national Phase III trial is being designed.
