Active not recruitingPHASE3INTERVENTIONAL

Prostate Advances in Comparative Evidence

This important study, called PEACE, is comparing different treatments for prostate cancer across many hospitals. It's looking at men with low, intermediate, or high-risk prostate cancer. The main treatments being compared are surgery (prostatectomy) and two types of radiation therapy: standard radiotherapy and a more focused type called SBRT. Depending on a man's cancer risk and whether surgery is an option for them, they will be randomly assigned to one of these treatments. The study wants to see which treatments are most effective, cause the fewest side effects, and genuinely improve a patient's life. It's designed to help doctors understand the best approaches for future patients.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Phase

PHASE3

Sponsor

Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust

Enrolment target

2,205

Start

07 Aug 2012

Estimated completion

01 Dec 2027

Prostate Cancer

What is this study about?

This study, called Prostate Advances in Comparative Evidence (PEACE), is a big international project looking into the best ways to treat men with prostate cancer. The main goal is to compare common treatments like surgery and different types of radiation therapy. By doing this, researchers hope to find out which treatments work best, cause the fewest problems, and help men live longer and have a better quality of life.

The study is designed to be fair. If you take part, you'll be randomly assigned to one of the treatments being compared. This means neither you nor your doctor chooses your specific treatment – it's like flipping a coin. This helps make sure the results are accurate and unbiased. The treatments include: 1) removing the prostate gland (prostatectomy), 2) standard radiation therapy given over several weeks, and 3) a more targeted, shorter course of radiation therapy called SBRT.

The study looks at men with different stages of prostate cancer – low, intermediate, and high risk. It also considers whether surgery is a suitable option for them. For some men, the study will compare surgery with SBRT. For others, it will compare standard radiation with SBRT. The aim is to gather strong evidence that will help doctors decide the best treatment plan for future patients with similar conditions.

Key takeaways

Compares surgery and two types of radiation for prostate cancer.
Aims to find the most effective treatments with fewer side effects.
Participants are randomly assigned to a treatment.
Includes men with low, intermediate, and high-risk prostate cancer.
Gathers important evidence for future prostate cancer care.
Long-term follow-up to monitor health and treatment effects.

Who may be eligible?

This study is for men aged 18 or over who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer in the last 18 months. To take part, you need to be generally well enough to go about your daily life without too much difficulty. You also need to fully understand and agree to participate by signing a consent form.

There are specific criteria based on your cancer's characteristics, like how aggressive it is (Gleason score), its size and spread (stage), and your PSA blood test level. For instance, men with lower or intermediate risk cancers, where surgery might be an option, could join one part of the study. If surgery isn't an option, or you'd simply prefer not to have it, there are other parts of the study you might be eligible for. Men with intermediate or high-risk cancer, who are also expected to receive hormone therapy, might also be suitable for a specific part of the study.

Your doctor will check all these details, including the results from your biopsy and imaging scans (like MRI), to see if you meet the specific requirements for any part of the study. The study looks at different groups of patients, so eligibility can vary slightly depending on your individual situation.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you a man aged 18 or older?
Have you been diagnosed with prostate cancer within the last 18 months?
Are you generally well enough for daily activities (WHO performance status 0-2)?
Does your doctor think surgery might be an option for you, or are you not considering it?
Are you able to understand the study and willing to sign a consent form?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in this study, the exact details will depend on which treatment group you are in. You will likely have regular hospital visits for check-ups, tests, and to receive your assigned treatment. This could include prostate surgery or a course of radiation therapy, which can last several weeks for standard radiotherapy or fewer sessions for SBRT. You may also receive hormone therapy as part of your treatment.

Throughout the study, you'll have appointments where doctors will assess how well the treatment is working, whether you're experiencing any side effects, and how your quality of life is. You might fill out questionnaires about your well-being. After your main treatment is finished, there will be follow-up appointments over several years to monitor your health and the long-term effects of the treatment. The total duration of your participation, including follow-up, will be explained fully by the study team, but it will involve monitoring for an extended period.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in a study like this could offer several potential benefits. You would receive one of the latest treatments for prostate cancer, carefully chosen and monitored by a team of experts. Your participation will also help doctors learn more about the best ways to treat prostate cancer, which could help many other patients in the future. However, there are also potential risks, as with any medical treatment. These could include side effects from surgery, radiation, or hormone therapy, which the study team will discuss in detail. You might also be assigned to a treatment that turns out not to be the most effective for your specific condition. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (68)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Northeast Cancer Centre
Verified postcode
Greater Sudbury, Canada
Juravinski Cancer Centre
Verified postcode
Hamilton, Canada
London Health Sciences Centre
Verified postcode
London, Canada
Walker Family Cancer Centre
Verified postcode
Niagara, Canada
Lakeridge Health
Verified postcode
Oshawa, Canada
The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre
Verified postcode
Ottawa, Canada
Odette Cancer Centre
Verified postcode
Toronto, Canada
Hôpital Charles-LeMoyne
Verified postcode
Montreal, Canada
Hôpital Maisonneuve Rosemont
Verified postcode
Montreal, Canada
Beacon Hospital
Verified postcode
Dublin, Ireland
Beaumont Hospital
Verified postcode
Dublin, Ireland
St James's Hospital
Verified postcode
Dublin, Ireland

Common questions

What is 'randomised' treatment?

It means you'll be assigned a treatment by chance, like flipping a coin. This ensures the results are fair and unbiased.

What is SBRT?

SBRT is a type of radiation therapy that delivers a very focused, high dose of radiation in fewer treatment sessions compared to standard radiotherapy.

Will I get hormone therapy?

Some parts of the study include hormone therapy (ADT), especially for intermediate and high-risk cancers. Your doctor will discuss this with you.

How long will I be followed up?

After your main treatment, you'll have regular check-ups for several years to see how you're doing and monitor the long-term effects.

Can I choose my treatment?

No, if you join this study, the specific treatment you receive will be chosen randomly from the options being compared for your situation.