Proton therapy showdown: 5 sessions vs. 44 for prostate cancer

NCT ID NCT01230866

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: Proton Collaborative Group Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This phase 3 trial is testing whether a shorter course of proton radiation (5 sessions over 1-2 weeks) works as well as the standard longer course (44 sessions over 8-9 weeks) for men with low-risk prostate cancer. The study involves 150 participants and will compare how well each treatment controls the cancer over two years, as well as any side effects. If the shorter schedule proves effective, it could greatly reduce treatment burden for patients.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Proton radiation therapy
What this could lead to: If successful, this could offer men with low-risk prostate cancer a much shorter, more convenient radiation treatment option that is just as effective as the standard longer course.
What could go wrong: This is an early-stage comparison in a specific low-risk group, so results may not apply to all prostate cancer patients. There is also a risk that the shorter treatment could cause more side effects or be less effective in the long run.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

prostate adenocarcinoma prostate cancer

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

PROSTATE CANCER

Contacts and locations

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Locations

Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute

Hampton, Virginia, 23666, United States
Maryland Proton Treatment Center

Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States
Mayo Clinic Cancer Center

Phoenix, Arizona, 85054, United States
Northwestern Medicine Chicago Proton Center

Warrenville, Illinois, 60555, United States
Oklahoma Proton Center

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73142, United States

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