ClinicalTrials.gg
RecruitingNCT07699705Updated Jul 13, 2026

Prospective Study of Ultrahypofractionated Proton Beam Therapy for Localized Prostate Cancer

An interventional study of Ultrahypofractionated Proton Beam Therapy in Prostate Neoplasm, sponsored by National Cancer Center, Korea. Recruiting at 1 site in South Korea. Open to male participants aged 19 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-13.

Sponsored by National Cancer Center, Korea · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 1 year 7 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Nov 2024, registered Jul 2026).
  • Started Nov 2024; still recruiting 2 years later.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
50
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
19 Years and older
Sex
Male
01

Study summary

The goal of this prospective observational cohort study is to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of ultrahypofractionated proton beam therapy in patients with localized prostate cancer and to identify clinical and treatment-related factors associated with oncologic outcomes and treatment-related toxicity.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

What are the long-term biochemical recurrence-free survival, clinical progression-free survival, overall survival, and acute and late treatment-related toxicity outcomes following ultrahypofractionated proton beam therapy? Which clinical characteristics, treatment planning parameters, and patient-reported outcomes are predictive of long-term oncologic outcomes and treatment-related toxicity?

Participants will:

Receive protocol-based ultrahypofractionated proton beam therapy (35-40 Gy[RBE] in 5 fractions).

Undergo routine clinical evaluation, laboratory testing including prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and imaging studies according to the institutional follow-up schedule.

Complete patient-reported outcome questionnaires (EPIC-CP and Visual Analog Scale [VAS]) before treatment and during follow-up.

Be followed prospectively to assess biochemical recurrence, clinical progression, survival outcomes, and acute and late treatment-related toxicities.

Read the detailed description

Localized prostate cancer can be effectively treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). Ultrahypofractionated radiotherapy has become an established treatment option because of its favorable radiobiological characteristics, shorter treatment duration, and improved patient convenience. Owing to the low alpha/beta ratio of prostate cancer, delivery of larger doses per fraction may provide radiobiological advantages while maintaining excellent tumor control.

Proton beam therapy (PBT) offers unique dosimetric advantages over photon radiotherapy by reducing unnecessary radiation exposure to surrounding normal tissues through the Bragg peak effect. These characteristics may be particularly beneficial for ultrahypofractionated treatment, especially in patients with intermediate- or high-risk disease who require treatment of larger target volumes, including the seminal vesicles or pelvic lymph nodes. However, prospective data regarding the long-term efficacy, safety, patient-reported outcomes, and predictive factors associated with ultrahypofractionated proton beam therapy remain limited.

This is a prospective, single-center observational cohort study conducted at the National Cancer Center, Republic of Korea. Approximately 50 adult patients with histologically confirmed localized prostate adenocarcinoma who are scheduled to undergo definitive ultrahypofractionated proton beam therapy will be prospectively enrolled after providing written informed consent.

All participants will receive protocol-based ultrahypofractionated proton beam therapy consisting of 35-40 Gy(RBE) delivered in five fractions using image-guided proton therapy. Androgen deprivation therapy will be administered according to contemporary clinical guidelines and physician discretion when indicated.

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of ultrahypofractionated proton beam therapy for localized prostate cancer. Secondary objectives include evaluation of biochemical recurrence-free survival, clinical progression-free survival, overall survival, acute and late treatment-related toxicity, and patient-reported quality of life. In addition, the study will prospectively investigate clinical characteristics, treatment planning parameters, dosimetric variables, and patient-reported outcome measures to identify factors associated with oncologic outcomes and treatment-related toxicity.

Clinical information, treatment planning data, physician-reported adverse events, laboratory findings including prostate-specific antigen (PSA), imaging studies, and patient-reported outcome measures using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite for Clinical Practice (EPIC-CP) and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) will be prospectively collected. Patients will be followed every three months during the first two years, every six months during years three and four, and annually thereafter according to institutional follow-up practice.

The findings from this prospective cohort study are expected to provide high-quality evidence regarding the clinical effectiveness and safety of ultrahypofractionated proton beam therapy and to facilitate the development of individualized treatment strategies for patients with localized prostate cancer by identifying predictors of long-term oncologic outcomes and treatment-related toxicity.

02

Conditions studied

  • Prostate Neoplasm

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Keywords

  • prostate neoplasm
  • proton therapy
03

In context

Prostatic Neoplasms

7,046 studies on the registry are indexed under Prostatic Neoplasms; 1,580 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 50 is below the median of 60 across 5,348 interventional studies indexed under Prostatic Neoplasms.

Browse Prostatic Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

National Cancer Center, Korea is the lead sponsor of 204 studies on the registry; 36 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
19 Years and older
Sexes eligible
Male
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • confirmed localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate.
  • No evidence of distant (M0).
  • (ECOG) performance status of 0-2.
  • Eligible to receive definitive image-guided ultrahypofractionated pencil beam scanning proton beam therapy according to the study protocol.
  • Ability to complete study questionnaires and comply with scheduled follow-up assessments.
  • Provision of written before study enrollment.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Residual or recurrent prostate cancer following prior radical prostatectomy.
  • Previous pelvic radiotherapy.
  • Evidence of distant disease.
  • Active within the previous 1 year, except adequately treated basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or completely resected T1N0M0 malignancies.
  • Uncontrolled psychiatric illness, severe traumatic brain injury, chronic alcohol or substance dependence, or other medical conditions that, in the investigator's judgment, would preclude safe participation or adequate follow-up.
  • Inability or unwillingness to provide written or comply with study procedures.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(5)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Histologically or cytologically confirmed

The diagnosis was confirmed by looking at a sample under a microscope: tissue from a biopsy or surgery (histology), or cells from a fluid or needle sample (cytology).

Your pathology report is the document that shows this.

Metastases

Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.

ECOG performance status

A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.

0
Fully active, no restrictions.
1
Limited in strenuous activity, but walking and able to do light work, such as housework or office work.
2
Walking and able to look after yourself, but unable to work; up and about more than half of waking hours.
3
Able to look after yourself only in part; in bed or a chair more than half of waking hours.
4
Unable to look after yourself at all; in bed or a chair all day.

Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Cancer (malignancy)

Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.

Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
50 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    ultrahypofractionated proton beam therapy

    Participants receive definitive ultrahypofractionated proton beam therapy (35-40 Gy\[RBE\] in 5 fractions) for localized prostate adenocarcinoma using image-guided proton therapy. Participants are prospectively followed for oncologic outcomes, treatment-related toxicity, and patient-reported quality of life.

    Radiation: Ultrahypofractionated Proton Beam Therapy

Interventions

  • RadiationUltrahypofractionated Proton Beam Therapy

    Ultrahypofractionated proton beam therapy is delivered using pencil beam scanning (PBS) with image-guided proton therapy. Before treatment planning, all participants undergo placement of an absorbable rectal hydrogel spacer and two intraprostatic gold fiducial markers. Treatment planning is performed using CT simulation with MRI fusion after hydrogel stabilization. Daily cone-beam CT (CBCT) with fiducial marker matching is used for image guidance and patient positioning. A total dose of 36.25-40.0 Gy(RBE) is delivered in 5 fractions over approximately 1-2 weeks. Unlike conventional proton beam therapy using opposed right and left lateral beam arrangements, this protocol employs four oblique beam angles (right anterior oblique, right posterior oblique, left posterior oblique, and left anterior oblique) to optimize dose conformity while minimizing radiation exposure to adjacent normal tissues.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Biochemical recurrence-free survival

    Biochemical recurrence is defined according to the Phoenix definition (PSA nadir + 2 ng/mL). Biochemical recurrence-free survival is measured from completion of proton beam therapy to biochemical recurrence or last follow-up.

    Time frame: Up to 5 years after completion of proton beam therapy

Secondary outcomes

  1. Patient-reported quality of life

    Patient-reported quality of life will be assessed using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite for Clinical Practice (EPIC-CP). Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better urinary quality of life.

    Time frame: baseline, postRT 1 month, 4 months, 7 months and 1 year

  2. Clinical recurrence-free survival

    Time from radiotherapy completion to first occurrence of any clinical recurrence (local, regional, or distant) or death. Recurrence will be confirmed by imaging studies and/or histopathological findings when available.

    Time frame: Up to 5 years after completion of proton beam therapy

  3. Overall survival

    Time from completion of ultrahypofractionated proton beam therapy to death from any cause. Participants who are alive at the time of analysis will be censored at the date of the last follow-up.

    Time frame: From completion of proton beam therapy to 5 years after treatment

  4. Treatment-related genitourinary toxicity

    Treatment-related genitourinary (GU) toxicity will be assessed according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.03. Acute toxicity is defined as adverse events occurring within 90 days after completion of proton beam therapy, and late toxicity as events occurring more than 90 days after treatment completion.

    Time frame: Up to 5 years after completion of proton beam therapy

  5. Treatment-related gastrointestinal toxicity

    Treatment-related gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity will be assessed according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.03. Acute toxicity is defined as adverse events occurring within 90 days after completion of proton beam therapy, and late toxicity as events occurring more than 90 days after treatment completion.

    Time frame: Up to 5 years after completion of proton beam therapy

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Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jul 13, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07699705
Responsible party
Sung Uk Lee (Clinical staff, National Cancer Center, Korea) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jul 13, 2026
Start date
Nov 4, 2024
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2034 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 31, 2034 (estimated)
Last update
Jul 13, 2026

Study contacts

Hyuna Park Clinical Research Coordinator, BS
Contact
77313@ncc.re.kr
82-31-920-0491 ext. 0491

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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