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THEPCA trial

A Randomised Feasibility Trial to Investigate the Timing of HDR Brachytherapy with EBRT in Intermediate and High Risk Localised Prostate Cancer Patients and its Effects on Toxicity and Quality of Life.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in UK males affecting around 105 cases for every 100,000 men. The role of radiotherapy in the management of prostate cancer has changed significantly over the last few decades with developments in Brachytherapy, External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT), Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) and Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT). A challenging factor of Radiotherapy treatment of localised prostate cancer is acute and late genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicities.

Radiotherapy is needed to treat prostate cancer and a combination of EBRT and High Dose Rate Brachytherapy is a well-recognised mode of treatment. However, it is not clear from the evidence which sequence of the above treatments (ie Brachytherapy either before or after the EBRT) would result in the least side effects.

We are working with Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to examine the timing of HDR Brachytherapy with EBRT for prostate cancer, and the side effects associated with the treatment.

You can find further information about the THEPCA trial on the Cancer Research UK website.