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Largest UK trial of treatment for prostate cancer publishes first results

Research

Active monitoring is as effective as surgery and radiotherapy, in terms of survival at 10 years, reports the largest study of its kind, funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

Cancer cell division of two prostate cancer cells in the final stage of cell division (cytokinesis). The cells are joined by several thin cytoplasmic bridges: Image credit: royaltystockphoto.com/ Shutterstock © Image credit: royaltystockphoto.com/ Shutterstock

Results published in New England Journal of Medicine show that all three treatments result in similar, and very low, rates of death from prostate cancer. Surgery and radiotherapy reduce the risk of cancer progression over time compared with active monitoring, but cause more unpleasant side-effects.

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