Researchers at Queen’s University in Belfast along with the Belfast Trust are conducting a clinical trial evaluating the combination of two radiotherapy treatments, Radium 223 and Pelvic Radiation using Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) in men with bone positive advanced prostate cancer.

The trial, being called ADRRAD trial, involves combining androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) along with the two radio-therapies. Treatment is expected to last about 18 months.

VMAT is an externally delivered type of radiotherapy that manipulates radiation beams to adapt to the shape of the tumor, delivering a more precise dose of radiation and limiting damage to surrounding tissue. Radium 223 is an intravenously administered radiotherapy that specifically targets bone metastases.

Besides these to radio-therapies men will continue to be on the standard ADT.

What is exciting about this trial is that it combines two different types of radio-therapies. This is a small trial and it is anticipated that results will take at least two years. Depending upon the trial results it is possible that an additional, larger international trial could begin.

It is worth staying in touch with this trial and for my brothers in the Belfast area, if you have bone metastases you might want to consider joining the trial.