First patient joins prostate side-effects study | News

The first patient has joined a Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust trial comparing the side effects of two common prostate cancer radiotherapy treatments, both delivered with a protective gel. 

The LDR BURST Trial is testing the side effects of Low Dose Rate (LDR) Brachytherapy  and Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) treatment for localised prostate cancer (where cancer is contained to the prostate gland), whilst using a protective gel, Barrigel.

In both trial treatments, the gel is inserted between the rectum and the prostate to create more space and protect healthy tissue and organs from the radiation.

Studies have shown that the radiation side effects can be reduced with the use of this gel alongside both treatments. Led by Royal Surrey Oncologists Dr William Hayhurst and Dr Carla Perna, this trial aims to find out whether that holds true equally for both treatments, or whether one causes fewer side effects than the other once the gel is used.

The side effects of both the radiation treatments are similar, and include needing to urinate more often and having a slower urine flow, more frequent and looser bowel movements and trouble achieving or maintaining an erection. 

Dr Hayhurst said: “Both the localised prostate cancer treatments in our study are well established, but they can leave men with troubling, and sometimes long-lasting, side effects. There is growing evidence to show the gel can reduce these. We now want to build the evidence base to show whether the two treatments cause similar levels of side effects once the gel is used, or whether one treatment causes fewer side effects than the other.

“This knowledge will help clinicians and patients make better informed choices about their treatment” 

LDR Brachytherapy uses small radioactive seeds inserted into the prostate gland to deliver their radiation to the nearby prostate cancer cells. Stereotactic radiotherapy (SBRT) is a form of external radiation - radiation delivered from outside the body - using precise high energy x-rays to target the prostate gland.

The study aims to recruit 220 participants in total. Men who take part will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: half will receive LDR Brachytherapy plus the gel, while the other half will receive SBRT plus the gel. Participants will complete questionnaires about their symptoms before treatment and at regular intervals afterwards, continuing for five years, to track how their side effects change over time.