Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are offered to Sturdy Memorial patients as a way of giving them more treatment options and enhanced quality of care. These are the same clinical trials that are being conducted in large, teaching hospitals, which enable patients to explore innovative, state-of-the-art cancer treatments close to home. Ongoing clinical trials are available to prostate cancer patients at Sturdy Memorial Hospital via the cooperative research groups CALGB, CTSU, and RTOG by physician request. The following clinical trials are currently available at Shields Radiation Oncology Center Mansfield, a partnership between Sturdy Memorial and Morton Hospitals, and Shields Health Care Group:

RTOG 0232: For patients with Intermediate Risk Prostate Cancer. A phase III study comparing combined external beam radiation and transperineal interstitial permanent brachytherapy vs. brachytherapy alone. Patients will be randomized to either external beam radiation therapy plus brachytherapy OR bachytherapy alone.

RTOG 0534: For patients with a Rising PSA after Radical Prostatectomy. A phase III trial of short term androgen deprivation with pelvic lymph node or prostate bed only radiation therapy. Patients will be randomized to either prostate bed radiation therapy OR prostate bed radiation plus hormone therapy for 4 - 6 months OR radiation to the pelvic lymph nodes plus prostate bed plus hormone therapy for 4 - 6 months.