Recruiting

Light-based therapy combined with medication for early prostate cancer

Plain-English translation of NCT06807359 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated May 2026 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

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Phase 1/2 — A combined trial that checks safety and dosing while also starting to look at whether the treatment works.

What is this trial?

This study is testing a new treatment approach for early prostate cancer called photodynamic therapy, which combines a light-activated medication called verteporfin for injection with a special laser system to destroy cancer cells in the prostate. Doctors will place thin fiber optic cables directly into your prostate gland and use light to activate the medication, which then damages the cancer tissue. The goal is to see if this approach is safe and effective at controlling the cancer.

Current treatments for early prostate cancer often involve surgery to remove the entire prostate or radiation, which can have significant side effects like incontinence and erectile dysfunction. This trial is exploring whether this new light-based treatment might be a gentler alternative that destroys only the cancer while preserving more healthy prostate tissue.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer within the last 9 months that has not spread beyond the prostate
your cancer has a Gleason score of 7 (a measure of how aggressive the cancer cells look under a microscope)
your PSA level is 15 ng/mL or lower (a blood test that measures prostate cancer risk)
the size of your cancer lesion on MRI imaging is less than 1.5 cubic centimeters
your overall health is good enough to tolerate the procedure and 3 years of follow-up visits
your kidney and liver function tests are within acceptable ranges

You likely don't qualify if…

you have cancer that has spread beyond the prostate or to the lymph nodes
you have had prior prostate surgery, radiation therapy, or other prostate cancer treatments
you have a bleeding disorder or take blood-thinning medications
you have a history of porphyria (a rare blood disorder that affects how your body processes light-sensitive compounds)
you have serious medical conditions or infections that would make it unsafe for you to undergo this procedure

What participation looks like

You will undergo a single procedure under general anesthesia, during which thin fiber optic cables will be inserted into your prostate gland using ultrasound guidance. Before the procedure, you'll receive an intravenous injection of the medication; then the special laser system will deliver light through the fibers to activate the medication and treat the cancer. After the procedure, you'll be followed closely for 36 months total with regular clinic visits and imaging scans to monitor how well the treatment works and to watch for any side effects.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 24, 2026 · Not medical advice

Light-based therapy combined with medication for early prostate cancer

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations(3 sites)