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What's New
PubMed · December 1, 2026
Researchers found that giving men with localized prostate cancer a short course of hormone-blocking therapy before a type of minimally invasive treatment called TULSA — which uses sound waves guided by MRI to destroy tumor tissue — caused the prostate and tumors to shrink significantly, making the procedure more feasible for patients whose anatomy might otherwise make it tricky. Specifically, the prostate shrank by about a quarter and the main tumor shrank by more than two-thirds, which could mean fewer patients are turned away from this treatment option. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that using two advanced imaging techniques — a PSMA PET scan (which highlights cancer cells using a special tracer) and an MRI — to precisely guide focused radiation treatment for prostate cancer led to strong early results, with tumors responding well and patients tolerating the treatment without major side effects or significant drops in quality of life. This approach targets not just the prostate but also nearby areas where cancer may have spread, which could be meaningful for men whose prostate cancer is considered higher-risk. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
A study found that doctors and their patients with prostate cancer often rated treatment side effects very differently after radiation therapy — doctors tended to underestimate urinary and bowel problems, while overestimating how active patients' sex lives were. This gap in perception matters because if a doctor doesn't realize how much a patient is struggling, important symptoms could go unaddressed. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that for people with intermediate- or high-risk prostate cancer treated with hormone therapy and radiation, suppressing testosterone to a much lower level than doctors traditionally aimed for was linked to better cancer outcomes. They also found that after hormone therapy ended, testosterone levels often took years to fully recover — and in some patients, never returned to normal — with older age and lower starting testosterone levels making recovery slower. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that for people with high-risk prostate cancer that hadn't visibly spread to nearby lymph nodes, expanding radiation treatment to cover a wider area of the pelvis — rather than targeting the prostate alone — did not lead to better survival across five large studies involving over 5,000 patients. Any early hints that the broader radiation approach might slow cancer progression appeared to come from just one study, and when that study was removed from the analysis, the benefit disappeared. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that a vaccine-based treatment called PROSTVAC, given to prostate cancer patients before surgery to remove the prostate, may help the immune system recognize and fight the cancer. In a small group of 26 patients followed for nearly nine years, none developed cancer that spread to other parts of the body, and patients whose immune systems responded to the vaccine appeared to have better long-term outcomes — meaning their cancer was less likely to return. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Guidelines
PubMed · November 1, 2026
According to ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology) guidelines, recommendations exist for treating prostate cancer that has spread and is no longer responding to hormone therapy — but the full guideline text was not provided here, so a specific and accurate summary cannot be shared. People in this situation should ask their doctor directly about the latest ASCO recommendations for their specific case.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient should know about the newest treatment options for metastatic prostate cancer that doesn't respond to hormone therapy, since there are updated guidelines from this year.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that some people with intermediate-risk prostate cancer — a stage considered slightly more concerning than the lowest-risk form — may be able to safely choose 'active surveillance,' meaning doctors closely monitor the cancer instead of immediately treating it. In the study, most patients went several years without their cancer worsening to a point where they needed to switch to treatment, and those monitored with a specialized MRI scan fared especially well. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
A study found that for people with localized prostate cancer receiving radiation, taking a hormone-suppressing drug called an LHRH analog for a longer period of time was linked to better survival — but adding or extending a second hormone-blocking pill (called a nonsteroidal antiandrogen, such as bicalutamide) for longer periods did not improve survival and was actually associated with patients stopping treatment early, possibly due to side effects. This distinction matters because it suggests that how long each part of the hormone therapy lasts may affect outcomes differently, and that more isn't always better when it comes to the additional pill. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
A study found that people with prostate cancer who had robot-assisted surgery to remove their prostate recovered faster when their care team followed a structured recovery plan — called an ERAS protocol — compared to standard care. Specifically, patients went home about a day and a half sooner and got their normal digestive function back more quickly after surgery. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
A study found that online tools designed to help men decide about prostate cancer screening worked better when they included personalized information — like a man's age and race — to estimate his individual risk, compared to tools that only gave general facts. Men who used the personalized version were more likely to make a clear decision about whether to get a PSA test, which is a simple blood test that can help detect prostate cancer early. The study also found that completion rates varied by race and age, with Black men and younger men less likely to finish the online tool, which raises important questions about how to make these resources equally useful for everyone. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
A study found that among men aged 55–69 who underwent repeated prostate cancer screening, tests were more likely to detect slow-growing, lower-risk cancers than the faster-growing, more dangerous ones — and the ability to catch those higher-risk cancers varied quite a bit depending on where in Europe the screening took place. Researchers also noticed that cancers found *between* scheduled screenings (meaning they were missed during the regular checks) became more common over time, suggesting that a one-size-fits-all screening schedule may not work equally well for everyone. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that a surgical approach called robot-assisted prostate removal — where surgeons use a robotic system for greater precision — led to meaningfully better short-term outcomes compared to traditional open surgery across 27 studies involving more than 38,000 patients. People who had the robot-assisted surgery lost significantly less blood during the procedure, were less likely to need a blood transfusion, spent about a day and a half less time in the hospital, and had fewer complications after surgery, along with better early recovery of bladder control and sexual function. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers looked at whether eating a 'western' diet (lots of red meat, processed meat, sweets) or a 'prudent' diet (lots of fruits, vegetables, fish) was linked to the chance of developing prostate cancer — the second most common cancer in men. After combining results from six long-term studies, they found that neither eating pattern made a meaningful difference in overall prostate cancer risk. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Guidelines
PubMed · October 27, 2026
According to the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) guidelines, people with localized prostate cancer (cancer that hasn't spread beyond the prostate) who are receiving external beam radiation — where a machine directs radiation at the body from the outside — should generally receive a shorter, more concentrated course of treatment rather than the older, longer standard schedule, because it works just as well with similar side effects and is simply less of a burden on patients. For people with lower-risk disease, an even shorter "ultra" version of this approach is also recommended as a standard option. One practical note: for patients who already have significant urinary problems before starting treatment, their doctor may lean toward the moderately shortened schedule rather than the most compressed one.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether hypofractionated radiation therapy — which delivers treatment in fewer, higher-dose sessions — might be a better option for the patient's prostate cancer than the standard radiation schedule.
What's New
PubMed · October 17, 2026
Researchers found that people with prostate cancer are generally open to using digital tools — like apps, online symptom trackers, and decision-support resources — to help manage their health between doctor visits, largely because of how convenient and flexible these tools are. Across 88 studies involving over 29,000 participants, digital tools showed promise in helping people manage symptoms, stay physically active, support their emotional wellbeing, and navigate treatment decisions. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 16, 2026
Researchers found that in people with advanced prostate cancer that had stopped responding to hormone therapy, a combination of two immunotherapy drugs — ipilimumab and nivolumab — worked about as well at the lowest dose tested as it did at higher doses, and with fewer side effects. They also discovered that patients whose cancer progressed quickly tended to share a specific pattern of immune cell activity (involving cells called TREM2-associated myeloid cells, which are a type of immune cell that may help cancer resist treatment), and this same pattern showed up in two other independent groups of prostate cancer patients — suggesting it could one day help doctors predict who is less likely to benefit from this type of treatment. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 15, 2026
Researchers found that a targeted radiation treatment called 225Ac-J591 — which homes in on a protein found on prostate cancer cells — was tested in men with advanced prostate cancer that had stopped responding to standard hormone-blocking therapies. The study helped identify a safer dosing approach (two doses given two weeks apart) and found that giving multiple cycles of the treatment caused too many serious side effects to be worth pursuing further. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 15, 2026
Researchers found that an AI tool, which analyzes images of prostate cancer tissue, could help predict which men with prostate cancer that has spread (called metastatic) were more likely to benefit from a treatment called enzalutamide — and which men were less likely to respond to it. Specifically, patients whose tissue was flagged as 'APIC negative' by the AI had much better survival rates when given enzalutamide compared to a standard alternative, while those flagged as 'APIC positive' didn't seem to benefit as much. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 12, 2026
A study found that men with prostate cancer who were overweight or obese and on 'active surveillance' — meaning doctors were closely monitoring their cancer rather than treating it right away — did not show overall quality-of-life improvements after a 6-month diet and exercise program, even though they lost more weight than the comparison group. However, when researchers looked more closely at smaller groups within the study, some men did see meaningful improvements in bowel function and sexual health. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 3, 2026
Researchers found that men being treated for prostate cancer — especially those on a hormone-blocking treatment called androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) — have a notably high rate of bone thinning and osteoporosis (a condition where bones become weak and more likely to break). This matters because weaker bones mean a greater chance of fractures, which can seriously affect quality of life. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that in people with an advanced form of prostate cancer that no longer responds to hormone-lowering treatments, certain genetic changes detected through a simple blood test were linked to the cancer progressing faster and a higher risk of death. The blood test looks for tiny fragments of tumor DNA floating in the bloodstream — a less invasive way to get information about the cancer compared to a traditional tissue biopsy. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that men in East Africa — particularly in countries like Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, and Rwanda — tend to be diagnosed with prostate cancer at a more advanced and aggressive stage than men in other parts of the world, and their tumors often show distinct biological patterns that may not be fully captured by tools developed for other populations. This matters because standard tests and treatments were largely designed based on data from Western countries, so they may be less accurate or effective for East African men. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that combining two types of cancer medications — one that blocks a DNA repair process in cancer cells (called a PARP inhibitor) and one that cuts off the hormones prostate cancer feeds on — worked better than using the hormone-blocking medication alone in men with advanced prostate cancer that had spread and carried certain DNA changes. The benefit was especially strong in men whose cancer had a specific gene change called a BRCA mutation, where the combination reduced the risk of the cancer visibly growing by about 64% compared to the hormone blocker alone — though men in the combination group also experienced more serious side effects. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that men with prostate cancer who undergo hormone-blocking treatment — which lowers testosterone to slow cancer growth — often experience hot flashes, and several treatments may help reduce them. Looking at 35 studies, researchers found that medications like antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs, and even acupuncture or talk therapy (where a trained counselor helps change thought patterns) reduced hot flash frequency by anywhere from about 20% to 84%, though sugar-pill placebos also showed a noticeable effect. This matters because hot flashes can seriously affect quality of life for men on this type of cancer treatment, and knowing that options exist — both with and without medication — could open up helpful conversations with their doctor. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Guidelines
PubMed · October 1, 2026
According to the American Urological Association (AUA) and the Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO), updated guidelines now provide new recommendations for treating metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer — a form of prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body and no longer responds to hormone-lowering therapy. These guidelines were refreshed in 2026 after reviewing dozens of recent studies, meaning the advice their doctor follows is based on the latest available evidence. This matters because treatment options in this area are evolving quickly, and updated guidance helps ensure people with this condition have access to the most current, evidence-based care.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient should know about the newer treatment options for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer that were added to the guidelines in 2026.
Guidelines
PubMed · October 1, 2026
According to the American Urological Association (AUA) and the Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO), updated guidelines now offer doctors clearer direction on how to evaluate and treat prostate cancer that has come back after local treatments (like surgery or radiation) or has spread to other parts of the body. The guidelines cover important steps like updated imaging and genetic testing — which can help a doctor understand how the cancer behaves and choose the best approach. These updates matter because treatment options for advanced prostate cancer are changing quickly, and having current guidance helps doctors make well-informed decisions for their patients.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient should know about the updated 2026 guidelines for treating prostate cancer that has come back after initial treatment, since there are new recommendations based on recent research studies.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that an artificial intelligence tool — which analyzes tissue samples, PSA levels, tumor stage, and age — may be able to predict which people with high-risk prostate cancer are most likely to benefit from adding a hormone-blocking drug called abiraterone to their treatment. In a study of over 1,100 patients, those flagged as 'very high-risk' by the AI saw a significant reduction in the chance of their cancer spreading when abiraterone was added, while those in the 'standard high-risk' group did not seem to benefit as much. This could eventually help doctors and patients make more personalized treatment decisions, potentially avoiding unnecessary medication for those unlikely to benefit from it. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that combining immunotherapy — treatments that help the body's immune system fight cancer — with targeted therapies (drugs that attack specific parts of cancer cells) worked better than using just one type of treatment alone for prostate cancer. Across 21 studies involving more than 5,700 patients, the combination helped more people see their cancer stabilize or shrink, though it also came with a higher chance of side effects. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that a specialized imaging scan called a PSMA PET scan — which uses a radioactive tracer to spot cancer cells — may be good enough to tell doctors whether prostate cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, potentially allowing some patients to skip a surgical procedure called pelvic lymph node dissection, where lymph nodes in the pelvis are removed and checked for cancer. The scan was very good at giving an 'all clear' result, meaning when it showed no spread, that result was correct about 95% of the time in patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient could skip the pelvic lymph node removal surgery if a PSMA PET scan comes back negative, or if that surgery is still necessary even with a negative scan.
For informational purposes only. Not medical advice. Always consult a physician before making any health decisions.