Rigshospitalet Launches Revolutionary Radiation Therapy Trial for Prostate Cancer

The Rigshospitalet (Copenhagen University Hospital) has begun treating patients with prostate cancer this week using a new and more intensive form of radiation therapy. Three patients are already participating in this groundbreaking trial, aimed at improving treatment for men at high risk of prostate cancer recurrence.

The trial is led by Ivan Vogelius, Chief Physicist at the Department of Cancer Treatment at Rigshospitalet. He explains that the new method employs radiation treatment in a much more aggressive manner. With advancements in technology, doctors can now precisely identify and target the most affected areas of the prostate.

“We cannot increase the radiation dose to the entire prostate, but we can hit the most critical areas and give them a higher dose,” says Vogelius. The goal is to significantly enhance the cure rates for prostate cancer patients.

The method is based on a Dutch study that has shown that this new form of treatment can reduce the risk of recurrence by half without increasing side effects for patients. Vogelius expresses optimism that the results from Rigshospitalet will be as promising as those observed in the Netherlands.

“We expect to offer treatment with as few side effects as in the Dutch trial while hoping to be even more precise in our treatment,” adds Vogelius. The trial, which has required several months of preparation, will include a total of 50 men and is planned to be expanded nationwide by the fall of 2025.

Every year, approximately 4,500 men in Denmark are diagnosed with prostate cancer. With this new radiation therapy trial, Rigshospitalet hopes to enhance treatment options, thereby increasing the cure rate and improving the quality of life for prostate cancer patients in the future.