Brachytherapy for Prostatic Carcinoma Patients

March 5, 2026 updated by: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Transperineal Interstitial Permanent Brachytherapy Alone for Selected Patients With Intermediate Risk Prostatic Carcinoma

The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if a prostate implant (brachytherapy) can help to control intermediate risk prostate cancer. The safety of this procedure will also be studied.

Prostate brachytherapy is performed by inserting permanent seeds (which are radioactive pellets) into your prostate in order to treat the prostate cancer with radiation therapy.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

If you are found to be eligible to take part in this study, you will have an ultrasound of your prostate before brachytherapy so that the prostate can be measured and mapped and the placement of the needles and seeds planned ahead of time. This is a 20-minute outpatient procedure that involves placing a probe (tube) into your rectum, which takes ultrasound pictures of the prostate to learn the size and shape. A specialized radiation plan for each patient is made, and the exact number of needles and seeds depend on the size and shape of the prostate. Ultrasound pictures, using the probe in the rectum, are taken before the implant procedure so that the plan can be made.

Brachytherapy is an outpatient surgical procedure. Under general or spinal anesthesia, you will have thin needles inserted through the skin between the anus and the scrotum. Seeds are inserted into the prostate through the needles. An ultrasound probe (tube which sends images of the prostate to a screen) is placed into the rectum and remains there during the procedure to help direct the needles. After the seeds are inserted, the needles are removed. The seeds remain permanently in the prostate. Typically, about 25 needles are inserted with about 100 seeds. The implant procedure takes about 1-2 hours in the operating room. Afterwards, you will go to the recovery room for 1-3 hours. You will then have a computed tomography (CT) scan after the procedure to make sure the seeds are properly placed. You will then be allowed to return home.

After treatment, you will have a study visit in 4-6 weeks. After that first follow-up visit, you will have follow-up visits at 4, 8, and 12 months (+/- 3 weeks) after treatment. After that, follow-up visits are every 6 months until 5 years after treatment and then once a year from then on (+/- 3 weeks). At these visits, you will have a physical exam. This may include a digital rectal exam if your doctor feels that it is needed. Blood (about 3 teaspoons) will be drawn for routine tests. You will be asked to complete 2 questionnaires about your urinary, bowel, sexual function, and overall quality of life. The 2 questionnaires take about 30 minutes to complete in total. A CT scan of the prostate will also be performed at the first follow-up visit after the implant to make sure the seeds are properly placed.

If blood tests show that your cancer is getting worse, a biopsy may be done after the treatment is complete. A biopsy is done by inserting a needle through the rectum and into the prostate. The procedure is similar to the one done to first diagnose your prostate cancer. Six (6) to 10 samples are usually taken. The doctor will also perform an ultrasound. This is done by placing a tube in the rectum, which shows a picture of the prostate on a screen and is used to guide the biopsies.

You will be taken off study if your disease progresses. Otherwise, you will remain on study indefinitely.

This is an investigational study. Brachytherapy is FDA approved. Up to 300 patients will take part in this study. All will be enrolled at MD Anderson.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
300

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Texas
      • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
        • University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate, clinical stage T1c - T2b (AJCC 6th Edition), N0, M0. Lymph node evaluation by either CT or MRI.
  2. Zubrod performance status 0-1.
  3. Patient must be greater than or equal to 18 years of age.
  4. Patients with intermediate risk prostate cancer as determined by one of the following combinations: Gleason < 7, PSA 10-15; Gleason 7, PSA must be < 10.
  5. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) prior to study entry must be less than or equal to 15 ng/ml.
  6. Hormone naive.
  7. Prostate volumes by TRUS less than or equal to 60 cc.
  8. AUA voiding symptom scores </= 15 (alpha blockers allowed); this is completed by the patient.
  9. Patients must sign a study-specific informed consent form prior to study entry.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Stage < T1c, T2c, T3 or T4 disease (AJCC 6th Edition).
  2. Lymph node involvement (N1).
  3. Evidence of distant metastases (M1).
  4. Radical surgery for carcinoma of the prostate, prior pelvic radiation, prior chemotherapy for prostate cancer, prior TURP, prior cryosurgery, TUNA, TUMT of the prostate.
  5. Active prostatitis.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Brachytherapy - Participants with < 35% biopsy core
Brachytherapy implant procedure lasting 1-2 hours. Questionnaires taking 30 total minutes.
Drug: Brachytherapy
Brachytherapy implant procedure lasting 1-2 hours.
Behavioral: Questionnaire
Questionnaires taking 30 total minutes.
Other Names:
  • Survey
Experimental: Brachytherapy - Participants with > 35% biopsy core
Brachytherapy implant procedure lasting 1-2 hours. Questionnaires taking 30 total minutes.
Drug: Brachytherapy
Brachytherapy implant procedure lasting 1-2 hours.
Behavioral: Questionnaire
Questionnaires taking 30 total minutes.
Other Names:
  • Survey

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Biochemical prostate specific antigen (PSA) progression
Time Frame: 2.5 Years
2.5 Years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Steven J. Frank, MD, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
August 1, 2006

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
September 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
September 30, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 4, 2007

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 4, 2007

First Posted (Estimated)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 6, 2007

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 9, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 5, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2006-0038
  • NCI-2012-01594 (Registry Identifier: NCI CTRP)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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