Clinical Trial to Examine New Therapy for Treating Metastatic Prostate Cancer

Patients at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center will now have access to a clinical trial examining a new treatment for patients with metastatic prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death among men in the U.S., and Sylvester and the Department of Urology are the only site in South Florida offering this important trial, known as SWOG 1802.

Prostate cancer, adenocarcinoma, with metastases, seen on a frontal scintiscan.

This is the first study of its kind in the U.S. to look at whether local treatment, specifically surgery, to remove the prostate in metastatic cancer is beneficial. SWOG 1802 is a Phase 3 randomized controlled trial.

The local site primary investigator, Chad Ritch, M.D., M.B.A., is a cancer researcher at Sylvester and assistant professor in the Department of Urology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

The goal of this landmark trial is to determine if there are definite oncologic benefits to adding local therapy (surgery or radiation) to standard systemic therapy (androgen deprivation therapy plus or minus chemotherapy) as a treatment option for newly diagnosed patients.

At present, it is unknown whether men with metastatic disease have improved survival rates or a lower likelihood of the disease progressing if the prostate is surgically removed.

The national clinical trial seeks to confirm recent findings that radiation therapy may also benefit a subset of men who currently have metastatic disease.

For more information, Dr. Ritch can be reached at 305-243-6596.

Tags: clinical trial, Dr. Chad Ritch, metastatic prostate cancer