Reduction of Gastrointestinal Toxicity in Prostate Cancer by Proton Spot Placement
Who can join
As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.
- Age
- 18 Years and older
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Compensation
- Not stated
Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.
What to expect
No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.
What participation involves
- Procedures mentioned: CT scans
Only what the study's summary and detailed description on ClinicalTrials.gov say. Time periods may describe the whole study or a part of it — ask the study team what applies to you.
Show the study's own words
- "The study involves creating a treatment plan based on a CT scan, which helps guide the proton beam in the body."
- "The clinical team uses this CT scan to find the best placement for the protons."
- Compensation
- Not stated
- Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
- Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
- Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
- Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.
About this study
This purpose of this study is to examine the placement of proton spots during pencil beam scanning proton therapy for low and intermediate risk prostate cancer. The researchers will test a unique technique called "Spot Delete" to control the placement of spots during treatment planning. They will also use a special computer model to study how the energy of the proton beam (linear energy transfer) is related to rectal and bladder side effects. The study involves creating a treatment plan based on a CT scan, which helps guide the proton beam in the body. The clinical team uses this CT scan to find the best placement for the protons. The "Spot Delete" method prevents protons from stopping in the rectum, sigmoid, and small bowel, which is thought to be related to acute or late toxicities, such as tenesmus, diarrhea, fecal incontinence, proctitis, and rectal hemorrhage.
Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.
Eligibility
Official eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Pathological proven diagnosis of prostatic adenocarcinoma * History and physical exam to establish clinical staging * Clinical stage T1-T2c (AJCC 7th edition) * Prostate specific antigen (PSA) \< 20 ng/mL * Gleason Score ≤ 7 * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance status 0-1 * Patients must be 18 years of age or older * Willingness and ability to complete the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) survey and Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) questionnaire Exclusion Criteria: * Prior radiotherapy to the pelvic area * Prior prostate cancer therapy: cryotherapy or hyperthermia * Prior systemic therapy (chemotherapy) for prostate cancer * Regional lymph nodes (common iliac, external iliac, internal iliac, presacral) are a target of treatment * Active diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn's disease
Study sites (1)
TN
- Thompson Proton Center · Knoxville, TN 37909Catherine Duke-Taylor, BS · Study contact · 865-331-8216 · cduke@CovHlth.comJessica M Severt, RN, BSN · Study contact · 865-331-4966 · jsevert@covhlth.comRyan Grover, MD · Sub-investigatorBrion Shin, MD · Sub-investigatorMore trials in Knoxville