Current research into treatments for prostate cancer

There are several trials looking at treatment for prostate cancer.

Early prostate cancer 

Photodynamic therapy (PDT)

PDT| is being tried in a few hospitals as a treatment for cancer that has come back in the prostate after initial treatment. A light-sensitive drug is given by injection into a vein.

There is a delay between the drug being given and the next stage of treatment. This allows time for the drug to concentrate in the cancer cells. In the second stage of treatment, a laser light is shone directly on to the cancer. The light activates the drug and the cancer cells are killed. After the treatment, patients are sensitive to light for up to three weeks and need to stay in dim light. It is not yet known how effective PDT is for prostate cancer.

Advanced prostate cancer

Intermittent hormonal therapy

To reduce the side effects of hormonal therapy|, a trial is looking to see if taking hormonal therapy intermittently will be as effective as taking it continually. Half of the men in the trial will be given hormonal therapy continuously for as long as it controls the cancer. The other men will be given the therapy for seven months and then it will be stopped. If the cancer shows signs of progressing, the hormonal therapy will be restarted for another seven months, and so on.

Combination treatments

If prostate cancer spreads to the bones, treatment with a bisphosphonate, such as zoledronic acid| (Zometa®), the chemotherapy drug docetaxel| (Taxotere®) and a type of radiotherapy called strontium 89| may be used. The treatments are usually given on their own. A trial is looking at different combinations of these treatments to see which combination works best.

Bisphosphonates

A trial is under way to see whether the bisphosphonate ibandronate could be used instead of radiotherapy to control pain from bone secondaries.

Other trials are researching whether bisphosphonates can help to prevent or delay the spread of prostate cancer to the bones. Bisphosphonates that may be used include clodronate| (Bonefos® or Loron®), ibandronate and zoledronic acid (Zometa®).