Plain-English translation of NCT01961713 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
Read our Prostate Cancer research guide →This research study is looking at circulating tumor cells—cancer cells that may be floating in your bloodstream—in men undergoing surgery to remove the prostate. Researchers will collect blood samples at different time points before and after your surgery to understand more about how these cells behave and what they might tell us about your cancer. This information could help doctors better predict how prostate cancer may progress and respond to treatment.
Currently, doctors don't have a clear way to use circulating tumor cells to predict which men with prostate cancer are at higher risk of the disease returning. By studying these cells in blood samples, researchers hope to develop better tools to monitor cancer outcomes and guide treatment decisions after surgery.
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You will have blood samples drawn at several time points: before surgery, one day after surgery, one to two weeks after surgery, three to six months after surgery, and either at the time of PSA recurrence or at two years. These blood draws will happen during routine medical appointments when you're already having other blood tests done for your cancer care. The study lasts up to two years, and your role is simply to allow researchers to collect and analyze these blood samples alongside your standard treatment.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 6, 2026 · Not medical advice
United States
Sponsor
Massachusetts General Hospital
Collaborators
Prostate Cancer Foundation Clinical Research Consortium
Enrollment target
~200 participants
Started
April 2010
Primary completion
December 2026
Age range
18 Years and older
Sex
Male only
Last updated on clinicaltrials.gov in October 2026.
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