Proton vs. photon: which radiation is kinder to prostate cancer patients?

NCT ID NCT03561220

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: University of Florida Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study follows 3000 men with prostate cancer to compare how proton therapy and standard photon radiation affect quality of life and side effects like bowel urgency. Participants receive standard care at proton or photon centers, and researchers track bowel, urinary, and sexual function over time. The goal is to help patients and doctors choose the best radiation option.

What this could mean

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

Active substance

radiation therapy (proton or photon)

What this could lead to

If it works, this could show which type of radiation causes fewer bowel side effects and better quality of life for men with prostate cancer.

What could go wrong

This is an observational comparison, not a randomized trial, so results may be influenced by patient differences. It is also not testing a new treatment, just comparing existing ones.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

prostate cancer

As listed by the trial registrant

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

PROSTATE CANCER

Contacts and locations

Show contact details

Locations

Ackerman Cancer Center

Jacksonville, Florida, 32223, United States
California Protons Cancer Therapy Center

San Diego, California, 92121, United States
Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States
Covenant Health

Somerset, New Jersey, 08873, United States
Covenant Health Proton Center

Knoxville, Tennessee, 37909, United States
Department of Radiation Oncology Davis Cancer Pavilion

Gainesville, Florida, 32611, United States
Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute

Hampton, Virginia, 23666, United States
Inova Schar Cancer Institute

Fairfax, Virginia, 22031, United States
Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland, 21218, United States
Karmanos Cancer Institute

Detroit, Michigan, 48201, United States
Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States
Mayo Clinic

Jacksonville, Florida, 32224, United States
Mayo Clinic

Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States
Mayo Clinic Health System

Mankato, Minnesota, 56001, United States
Mayo Clinic Health System

Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 54703, United States
Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare

Sparta, Wisconsin, 54656, United States
Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, 29407, United States
Miami Cancer Institute

Miami, Florida, 33176, United States
New York Proton Center

New York, New York, 10035, United States
Northwestern Medicine Proton Center

Warrenville, Illinois, 60555, United States
Oregon Health & Science University

Portland, Oregon, 97201, United States
Orlando Health UF Health Center

Orlando, Florida, 32806, United States
Proton Therapy Treatment Center - Loma Linda University

Loma Linda, California, 92354, United States
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08901, United States
S Lee Kling Proton Therapy Center - Washington University Medical Center

St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States
Seattle Care Alliance/University of Washington

Seattle, Washington, 98133, United States
Stephenson Cancer Center

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73104, United States
Sutter Health

Roseville, California, 95661, United States
Texas Center for Proton Therapy

Irving, Texas, 75063, United States
Texas Oncology

Austin, Texas, 78731, United States
Texas Oncology - Longview

Longview, Texas, 75601, United States
Texas Oncology - McKinney

McKinney, Texas, 75071, United States
Texas Oncology - Plano West

Plano, Texas, 75093, United States
Texas Oncology - Waco

Waco, Texas, 76712, United States
The Duke University Health System

Durham, North Carolina, 27705, United States
Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19144, United States
UNC- Rex Hospital

Raleigh, North Carolina, 27607, United States
University Hospitals- Seidman Cancer Center

Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)

Birmingham, Alabama, 35294, United States
University of California San Diego

La Jolla, California, 92093, United States
University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois, 60637, United States
University of Cincinnati Medical PTC

Cincinnati, Ohio, 45267, United States
University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute

Jacksonville, Florida, 32206, United States
University of Kansas Medical Center

Lawrence, Kansas, 66045, United States
University of Louisville

Louisville, Kentucky, 40292, United States
University of Maryland

College Park, Maryland, 20742, United States
University of Miami School of Medicine

Miami, Florida, 33136, United States
University of Pennsylvania--Penn Medicine

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
University of Virginia

Charlottesville, Virginia, 22904, United States
Weill Cornell

New York, New York, 10065, United States
Willis-Knighton Medical Center PTC

Shreveport, Louisiana, 71103, United States
Winship Cancer Institute - Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States