Why we funded it
This research study will be able to provide rapid results. If
proven successful, the technique being tested could be adopted
quickly into current hospital practice and provide a simple,
inexpensive way to improve the efficacy of existing radiotherapy
treatment for prostate cancer.
Scientific Title
A Phase Ib/II trial of Prostate Radiotherapy in Conjunction with
Carbogen and Nicotinamide (PROCON)
Research project summary
Dr Alonzi's research group has already shown that a simple,
low-cost measure to increase oxygen levels in tumours significantly
improves the outcomes of radiotherapy treatment for bladder
cancer. This research project will test the same approach for
prostate cancer radiotherapy.
Fifty men receiving radiotherapy for localised prostate cancer
will be asked to participate in the main study. Each man will
breathe a high-oxygen gas, carbogen, during radiotherapy and also
take nicotinamide tablets (vitamin B3) on each day of
radiotherapy treatment. Twenty men will also be invited to
participate in imaging research, which will monitor the effects of
the carbogen and nicotinamide on tumour oxygen levels during
radiotherapy using MRI scans. Men will also be asked for
permission to collect tissue samples from their tumour for the
researchers to study in detail in the laboratory.
This research will take 3 years in total and, at the end of this
time, it is hoped the intervention will have proved effective
enough to go forward into large multi-centre clinical trials that
would provide the evidence needed for carbogen and nicotinamide to
be widely adopted in prostate cancer radiotherapy in the NHS.
If so, this research could provide a straightforward way to improve
prostate cancer survival rates in men treated with
radiotherapy.