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NCT Number: NCT01794403

Radiation Hypofractionation Via Extended Versus Accelerated Therapy (HEAT) For Prostate Cancer

Accelerated Hypofractionation Radiotherapy for prostate cancer of 36.25 Gy delivered in 5 fractions will not be inferior to the standard treatment of 70.2 Gy given in 26 fractions with respect to four-year biochemical failure (PSA failure) by Phoenix definition post-treatment completion.

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This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

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Key information

Age range

35 year–85 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Northern Sydney Local Health District - Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia

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Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Histologically proven prostate adenocarcinoma.
  • Gleason score 2-7 (reviewed by reference lab at UM).
  • Biopsy within one year of date of enrollment.
  • Clinical stage ≤ T2 based on DRE and/or ≤ T3a based on MRI (if done); N0-Nx; M0-Mx (AJCC 7th Edition)
  • T-stage and N-stage determined by physical exam and available imaging studies (CT, and/or MRI of the pelvis; see section 4.5). For MRI, questionable extracapsular extension is permitted. To distinguish blood from tumor the ideal study would be to acquire T2, T1 noncontrast and T1 dynamic contrast enhanced sequence, although this is not required. A small amount of extracapsular extension is permitted, as long as it can be included in the clinical target volume (CTV) and the constraints are met.
  • M-stage determined by physical exam, CT or MRI. Bone scan not required unless clinical findings suggest possible osseous metastases.
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) < 20 ng/ml, obtained no greater than 3 months prior to enrollment.
  • Patients belonging in one of the following risk groups:
  • Low:
  • Clinical stage* T1-T2; Gleason ≤ 6, PSA ≤ 10 & <50% biopsy cores positive.
  • Intermediate:
  • Clinical stage T2b-T2c; Gleason ≤ 6, PSA ≤ 10 & <50% biopsy cores positive.
  • Clinical stage T1-T2; Gleason ≤ 6, PSA ≤ 10 & ≥50% biopsy cores positive.
  • Clinical stage T1-T2; Gleason = 7, PSA ≤ 10 & <50% biopsy cores positive or T1-T2; Gleason ≤ 6 & PSA >10 and < 20 & < 50% biopsy cores positive.
  • MRI stage T3a with evidence of extraprostatic extension is allowed.
  • Clinical stage is based on digital rectal exam (DRE). Seminal vesicle invasion on MRI is not eligible. T1a should be permitted if subsequent peripheral zone biopsies show tumor.
  • Prostate volume: ≤ 80 cc.
  • Determined using: volume = π/6 x length x height x width.
  • Measured from CT or MRI ≤90 days prior to enrollment.
  • Zubrod performance status 0-1.
  • No prior total prostatectomy or cryotherapy of the prostate.
  • Prior suprapubic prostatectomy, transurethral resection and laser ablation are permitted.
  • No prior radiotherapy to the prostate or lower pelvis.
  • No implanted hardware or other material that would prohibit appropriate treatment planning or treatment delivery, in the investigator's opinion.
  • No chemotherapy for a malignancy in the last 5 years.
  • No history of an invasive malignancy (other than this prostate cancer, or nonmetastatic basal or squamous skin cancers) in the last 5 years.
  • 4-6 months of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) are allowed for intermediate risk patients. This must be declared prior to randomization. This may not have been started more than 2 months prior to randomization.
  • Patient must be able to have gold fiducial markers placed in the prostate (if on anticoagulants, must be cleared by a primary care physician or cardiologist), or if patient already has fiducial marker placed, they must be in accordance with the protocol specifications. Note: If a method of intrafraction prostate tracking is available which does not require fiducial markers, this will be adequate for this trial (i.e. fourth dimensional (4D) transperitoneal ultrasound, onboard MRI guidance).
  • Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
  • Willingness to fill out quality of life/psychosocial forms.
  • Age >= 35 and =< 85 years.
  • International Prostate Symptom Index (IPSS) (AUA) score ≤12

Exclusion criteria

  • Does not have a diagnosis of prostate adenocarcinoma.
  • Patient has clinical T3a or any evidence of T3b disease.
  • Patient has stage N1 or M1 disease.
  • Patients has a PSA of greater than 20 ng/ml, obtained no greater than 3 months prior to randomization.
  • Patient does not meet any of the risk groups outlined in section 3.1.4.
  • Prostate volume greater than 80 cc.
  • Zubrod performance status 2 or greater.
  • Prior total prostatectomy.
  • Prior radiation therapy to the prostate or lower pelvis.
  • Implanted hardware which limits treatment planning or delivery (determined by the investigator).
  • Chemotherapy within the past 5 years.
  • Diagnosis of an invasive malignancy within 5 years (other than current prostate cancer or non-metastatic basal or squamous skin cancers or non-metastatic curatively treated papillary thyroid carcinoma).
  • The use of more than 2 months of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) prior to randomization, or plans for ADT to be continued for greater than 6 months.
  • Inability to have gold fiducial markers placed in the prostate, or fiducial markers already placed that are not in accordance with the protocol (Section 4.2.2). Note: If a method of intrafraction prostate tracking is available which does not require fiducial markers, this will be adequate for this trial (i.e. 4D transperitoneal ultrasound, onboard MRI guidance).
  • Unwilling or inability to give informed consent.
  • Not willing to fill out quality of life/psychosocial questionnaires.
  • IPSS score > to 12.
  • Age < 35 and > 85 years.

Treatment and study plan

Extended Hypofractionation Radiotherapy

Radiation

A total dose of 70.2 Gy will be delivered in 26 fractions, 2.7 Gy to the Planning Target Volume (PTV) by Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) with stationary gantry or rotating gantry technique.

Other names: EHRT

Accelerated Hypofractionation Radiotherapy

Radiation

A total dose of 36.25 Gy will be delivered in 5 fractions, 7.25 Gy each to the Planning Target Volume (PTV), by Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) techniques.

Other names: AHRT

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of Participants Achieving Four-Year Biochemical Failure.

    Time frame: Up to 4 years (After Completion of Intervention)

    The number of participants achieving four-year biochemical failure between both treatment arms will be reported. Biochemical Failure will be evaluated using the Phoenix definition wherein failure occurs when the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is ≥ 2 ng/ml more than the lowest PSA measurement before the current one.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Number of Participants Achieving Two-Year Failure.

    Time frame: Up to 2 years (After Completion of Intervention)

    The number of participants achieving either biochemical or clinical failure or positive biopsy. Biochemical Failure will be evaluated using the Phoenix definition wherein failure occurs when the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is ≥ 2 ng/ml more than the lowest PSA measurement before the current one. Clinical failure will be reported as any clinical evidence of local progression or recurrence. A positive biopsy will be concluded via histological evaluation.

  2. Number of Participants Experiencing Acute Treatment-Related Toxicity

    Time frame: Up to 5 months (After Completion of Intervention)

    Acute treatment-related toxicity will be reported as the number of participants experiencing treatment-related grade 3 or higher gastrointestinal (GI) or genitourinary (GU) adverse events during treatment or within three (3) months after treatment completion. Toxicity will be assessed using the descriptions and grading scales found in the revised NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.0.

  3. Prostate Cancer Mortality Rate as Measured by Number of Deaths

    Time frame: Up to 5.25 years (After Completion of Intervention)

    The prostate cancer mortality rate will be reported as the number of deaths related to prostate cancer among participants.

  4. Overall Survival

    Time frame: Up to 5.25 years (After Completion of Intervention)

    Overall survival will be reported as the elapsed time in months from randomization to death from any cause. For surviving patients, follow-up will be censored at the date of last contact.

  5. Numbers of Participants Achieving ASTRO Consensus Definition (ACD) of Biochemical Failure

    Time frame: Up to 5.25 years (After Completion of Intervention)

    The number of participants achieving American Society for Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology (ASTRO) Consensus Definition (ACD) of biochemical failure will be reported. ACD failure is defined as three consecutive rises in post-treatment PSA, measured at the specified follow-up intervals.

  6. HRQOL as Assessed by MAX-PC questionnaire

    Time frame: Up to 5.25 years (After Completion of Intervention)

    Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) will be measured using the scores on the Modified 18-item Memorial Anxiety Scale for Prostate Cancer (MAX-PC) from pre-treatment to post-treatment. The scale consists of 18 items (e.g. "I thought about prostate cancer even though I didn't mean to.") scored on a scale from 0 ("not at all") to 3 ("often"). Total scores range from 0 to 54, with higher scores indicating higher levels of anxiety.

  7. HRQOL as Assessed by EPIC-Short Form-12 questionnaire

    Time frame: Up to 5.25 years (After Completion of Intervention)

    Health-related Quality of Life (HRQOL) will be measured using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite and Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-12 (EPIC-Short Form-12) to evaluate patient function and satisfaction after prostate cancer treatment. The questionnaire has 5 subscales (Urinary Function, Urinary Symptoms, Bowel Habits, Sexual Function and Hormonal Function). Each subscale has a total score ranging from 0-100, with higher scores representing better HRQOL.

  8. Number of Participants Experiencing Late Treatment-Related Toxicity

    Time frame: Up to 5.25 years (After Completion of Intervention)

    Late treatment-related toxicity will be reported as the number of participants experiencing treatment-related grade 2 or higher gastrointestinal (GI) or genitourinary (GU) adverse events occurring more than three months after treatment completion. Toxicity will be assessed using the descriptions and grading scales found in the revised NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.0.

  9. Percentage of Participants Achieving Efficacy

    Time frame: Up to 2 years (After Completion of Intervention)

    Efficacy will be reported as the percentage of participants achieving biochemical or clinical failure between participants with low and early intermediate risk for prostate cancer. Biochemical Failure will be evaluated using the Phoenix definition wherein failure occurs when the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is ≥ 2 ng/ml more than the lowest PSA measurement before the current one. Clinical failure will be reported as any clinical evidence of local progression or recurrence.

  10. Average Incremental Cost Utility Score as Measured by Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs)

    Time frame: Up to 5.25 years (After Completion of Intervention)

    An average cost utility score per patient for each treatment arm (AHRT and EHRT) will be reported as the quality adjusted life years among participants for that treatment. Cost utility will be calculated via analysis of the costs of a given treatment and compared to the cost utility of competing treatment.

  11. Percentage of Participants with Residual Tumor Post-Treatment

    Time frame: 2.25 years

    The percentage of participants with residual tumor on both arms will be reported. The investigators will obtain prostate tissue from participants via biopsy two years after completion of protocol tissue. Tissue will analyzed for the expression of prostate cancer biomarkers. The expression of biomarkers in the post-treatment biopsies will be compared to that in the pre-treatment prostate biopsies.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Miami

Other

Collaborators

  • Jay L. Friedland MD Prostate Cancer Research Fund

Registry information

Official study title

A Randomized Study of Radiation Hypofractionation Via Extended Versus Accelerated Therapy (HEAT) For Prostate Cancer

Acronym: HEAT

Important dates

Study start
2013
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Feb 18, 2013
Registry last updated
Oct 24, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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