New Treatments & Clinical Trials for Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, diagnosed in about 1 in 8 over their lifetime. Treatment varies widely—from active surveillance for slow-growing tumors to surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy for advanced disease. Many men with localized prostate cancer live for decades without the cancer affecting their lifespan.

What's actually going on in research

Trials are testing PARP inhibitors for men with DNA repair gene mutations, radioligand therapies that deliver radiation directly to cancer cells, new hormone therapies that work differently than current drugs, and combination approaches for metastatic disease. Researchers are also studying better ways to identify which tumors are safe to watch and which need aggressive treatment.

What to know before you search

Eligibility typically depends on cancer stage (localized, regional, or metastatic), PSA level, Gleason score, prior treatments, and presence of specific gene mutations like BRCA1 or BRCA2.

What types of trials are currently open

• Treatment trials — Testing new hormone therapies, chemotherapy drugs, or combinations to shrink tumors or slow disease progression in metastatic prostate cancer.
• Targeted therapy trials — Testing drugs like PARP inhibitors or radioligand therapies that attack cancer cells based on specific genetic mutations or proteins.
• Active surveillance trials — Studying how to safely monitor low-risk prostate cancer without immediate treatment, and when to switch to active treatment.
• Radiation trials — Testing new radiation techniques, doses, or combinations with drugs to improve cancer control while reducing side effects.
• Biomarker studies — Examining genetic tests and imaging to better predict which cancers will grow aggressively and which can be safely watched.