Feasibility Study of Radiation Therapy and IRreversible Electroporation for Intermediate Risk Prostate Cancer (RTIRE)
March 9, 2023
This video presents a study on a novel treatment approach for intermediate risk prostate cancer. The Radiation Therapy and IRreversible Electroporation for Intermediate Risk Prostate Cancer (RTIRE) study investigates the combination of radiation therapy and irreversible electroporation (IRE). Advanced imaging techniques, such as MRI and PSMA PET, help doctors identify aggressive and less aggressive areas of the cancer within the prostate. The study aims to assess if adding lower dose radiation therapy to the entire prostate after IRE, known as RTIRE, improves the chances of long-term cancer control while preserving the quality of life. This approach seeks to minimize side effects associated with surgery or high dose radiation therapy.
Related Content:
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05345444 Radiation Therapy and IRreversible Electroporation for Intermediate Risk Prostate Cancer (RTIRE)
View More Clinical Trial Information on PRIMR
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05345444 Radiation Therapy and IRreversible Electroporation for Intermediate Risk Prostate Cancer (RTIRE)
View More Clinical Trial Information on PRIMR
Read the Full Video Transcript
Speaker: This video is an overview of a new study for patients with prostate cancer. Patients can participate in this study if they have intermediate risk prostate cancer. The current standard treatment options for intermediate risk prostate cancer includes surgery and radiation therapy. Both surgery and radiation therapy treat the entire prostate even if the cancer is small. With surgery, the entire prostate is removed. With radiation therapy, the entire prostate receives high dose radiation. These treatments result in high cure rates. However, a disadvantage of surgery and radiation is patients may be left with urinary bowel and sexual side effects. It is possible in some patients, these aggressive treatments are not necessary. Even though a biopsy may show multiple areas with cancer, sometimes only one or two areas are more aggressive and could spread to other parts of the body. While at the same time, there may be other areas of prostate cancer that may not require intensive treatment.
A new treatment approach called RTIRE, combining radiation therapy and irreversible electroporation is being evaluated in men with intermediate risk prostate cancer. With scans called MRI and PSMA PET, doctors can now map out the most aggressive part of the prostate cancer and also locate less aggressive parts. Doctors target IRE to the portion of the prostate with the most aggressive cancer with short pulses of electricity. Sometimes slow growing or less aggressive cancer is left alone and is not treated by IRE. An advantage of IRE alone is it may allow patients to avoid the side effects that may happen with surgery or high dose radiation therapy. A disadvantage of IRE alone is the non-targeted cancer may persist or grow in other parts of the prostate that were not treated requiring more cancer treatment.
A key question is whether adding lower dose radiation to the entire prostate after IRE, known as RTIRE, increases the chance that prostate cancer never returns and preserves quality of life. On this trial, doctors map the prostate with scans called MRI and PSMA PET to locate the most aggressive prostate cancer. When mapping is complete, patients undergo IRE to target the most aggressive cancer. After IRE, patients have focused lower dose radiation therapy to the entire prostate to reduce the chance of prostate cancer recurrence. When combined with IRE, radiation is given at a lower dose compared to when it is given as the only treatment. Doctors will follow patients to check for side effects and see if the cancer returns.
Speaker: This video is an overview of a new study for patients with prostate cancer. Patients can participate in this study if they have intermediate risk prostate cancer. The current standard treatment options for intermediate risk prostate cancer includes surgery and radiation therapy. Both surgery and radiation therapy treat the entire prostate even if the cancer is small. With surgery, the entire prostate is removed. With radiation therapy, the entire prostate receives high dose radiation. These treatments result in high cure rates. However, a disadvantage of surgery and radiation is patients may be left with urinary bowel and sexual side effects. It is possible in some patients, these aggressive treatments are not necessary. Even though a biopsy may show multiple areas with cancer, sometimes only one or two areas are more aggressive and could spread to other parts of the body. While at the same time, there may be other areas of prostate cancer that may not require intensive treatment.
A new treatment approach called RTIRE, combining radiation therapy and irreversible electroporation is being evaluated in men with intermediate risk prostate cancer. With scans called MRI and PSMA PET, doctors can now map out the most aggressive part of the prostate cancer and also locate less aggressive parts. Doctors target IRE to the portion of the prostate with the most aggressive cancer with short pulses of electricity. Sometimes slow growing or less aggressive cancer is left alone and is not treated by IRE. An advantage of IRE alone is it may allow patients to avoid the side effects that may happen with surgery or high dose radiation therapy. A disadvantage of IRE alone is the non-targeted cancer may persist or grow in other parts of the prostate that were not treated requiring more cancer treatment.
A key question is whether adding lower dose radiation to the entire prostate after IRE, known as RTIRE, increases the chance that prostate cancer never returns and preserves quality of life. On this trial, doctors map the prostate with scans called MRI and PSMA PET to locate the most aggressive prostate cancer. When mapping is complete, patients undergo IRE to target the most aggressive cancer. After IRE, patients have focused lower dose radiation therapy to the entire prostate to reduce the chance of prostate cancer recurrence. When combined with IRE, radiation is given at a lower dose compared to when it is given as the only treatment. Doctors will follow patients to check for side effects and see if the cancer returns.