A groundbreaking international trial investigating a robotic, AI-driven therapy for prostate cancer has launched in the UK, marking a major milestone in cancer research and treatment innovation.
Supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the trial will assess whether Aquablation therapy – a robotic-assisted, high-pressure waterjet guided by real-time imaging – is as effective as traditional surgery for men with localised prostate cancer.
Unlike radical prostatectomy, which involves removing the entire prostate gland and carries a high risk of long-term side effects such as erectile dysfunction and loss of bladder control, Aquablation aims to deliver precise, less invasive treatment. Using ultrasound mapping, surgeons can target cancerous tissue while avoiding surrounding nerves and muscles critical for continence and sexual function.
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is the first hospital in Europe to recruit a patient to the trial, which spans seven countries and aims to enrol 280 patients globally. Four UK hospitals are participating:
- The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
- Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
- Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Men over 45 with early-stage, localised prostate cancer who have opted for surgery may be eligible. The trial’s primary outcome is improved continence and erectile function, assessed six months post-treatment.
Consultant Urological Surgeon at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Mr Philip Charlesworth, said:
“For men with prostate cancer confined to the prostate, curative options are excellent, however we are becoming increasingly focused on the side effects of the cancer treatment and how we can embrace new technology to maintain a man's quality-of-life following their surgery.
“This trial is measuring Aquablation therapy which uses a robotic approach to surgically remove the cancer, and to preserve a man's ability to remain continent and maintain sexual activity.”
Prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 men and more than 63,000 men in the UK are diagnosed annually. This trial aligns with the government’s Men’s Health Strategy, launched last month, which prioritises improving prostate cancer care through NIHR-backed research.
Aquablation therapy is already widely used for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous condition, but this is the first time it is being trialled for cancer treatment.
By being the first country outside the US to recruit a patient, the UK demonstrates its ability to deliver fast, complex trial setup and support world-leading science in partnership with industry.
The trial is supported by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at The Royal Marsden, and The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London – the UK’s only NIHR BRC dedicated solely to cancer.
Image credit: iStock
