A major new clinical trial has launched in the United Kingdom, testing an innovative prostate cancer treatment that promises to significantly reduce the debilitating side effects often associated with current surgical options.
How the Aquablation Therapy Works
The trial will evaluate a procedure called Aquablation. This less invasive technique uses a robotic-assisted, high-pressure water jet to remove cancerous tissue. Surgeons first map the entire prostate in real-time using ultrasound imaging. Artificial intelligence then helps guide the robotic system to precisely target the tumour while actively avoiding surrounding nerves and muscles crucial for erectile function and bladder control.
Currently, the standard curative surgery for localised prostate cancer is a radical prostatectomy, which involves removing the entire gland. While effective, it carries substantial risks of serious side effects including infection, erectile dysfunction, and long-term urinary problems. Experts hope Aquablation's precision will minimise these life-altering issues.
An International Study with UK Leadership
The government-funded National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is backing the trial, which is sponsored by US firm Procept BioRobotics and running across seven countries. In the UK, the study is being conducted at four leading NHS trusts: The Royal Marsden, Guy's and St Thomas', the Royal Free London, and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals.
Globally, 280 patients with early-stage, localised prostate cancer who have already chosen surgery will be recruited. Mr. Philip Charlesworth, a consultant urological surgeon at The Royal Marsden, described the trial as "an incredibly exciting prospect for the future of prostate cancer care."
"We are becoming increasingly focused on the side effects of cancer treatment and how we can embrace new technology to maintain a man's quality-of-life following their surgery," Charlesworth said. He added that positive results could provide an alternative surgical treatment option for patients with localised prostate cancer across the globe.
Rising Cases and the Screening Debate
The trial launch comes amid rising prostate cancer diagnoses. Figures from Prostate Cancer UK indicate one in eight men will be affected in their lifetime. In England alone, 58,218 men were diagnosed last year—a near 9% increase from 2023.
This surge has intensified calls for a national screening programme, backed by high-profile figures like Olympian Sir Chris Hoy and former Sky News presenter Dermot Murnaghan, both diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. Former Prime Minister Lord Cameron also supports screening after his own treatment.
However, last month, scientific advisers recommended against routine screening for most UK men, stating it would "likely cause more harm than good." For now, they only advise regular screening for men aged 45 to 61 with high-risk BRCA genetic mutations. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he was "surprised" by this cautious stance.
While the new Aquablation trial offers hope for better treatment outcomes, it is currently used in some centres to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The results of this pivotal study will be eagerly awaited by patients and clinicians worldwide.
