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What's New
PubMed · September 2, 2026
Researchers found that using a specialized PET/CT scan — a type of imaging that highlights cancer cells using a tracer that sticks to prostate cancer — to guide a robotic biopsy needle detected prostate cancer in about 97% of patients, compared to about 81% with the standard MRI-guided biopsy approach. That gap is meaningful because missing a cancer on a biopsy can delay treatment. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient should consider the newer PET scan-guided biopsy method instead of the standard MRI-guided biopsy for detecting prostate cancer in suspicious areas.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that a hormone-blocking treatment commonly used for prostate cancer — called androgen deprivation therapy — can weaken bones over time, raising the risk of fractures. A review of 26 studies found that a medication called denosumab appeared to significantly reduce the chance of spinal fractures in men with prostate cancer who were on this hormone-blocking treatment, while another class of bone-protecting drugs called bisphosphonates (given by mouth or through an IV) did not show the same clear benefit for fractures, though both types did improve bone density. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that for people with high-risk prostate cancer, increasing the radiation dose from 70 to 80 Gray (a unit used to measure radiation) improved the chances of the cancer not progressing — meaning it helped keep the cancer from growing or spreading for longer. This matters because high-risk prostate cancer can be harder to treat, and finding ways to keep it under control longer could be meaningful for patients and their doctors when weighing treatment options. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
A study is examining whether men with high-risk prostate cancer can do just as well with a shorter course of hormone-blocking therapy — 9 months instead of the usual 24 months — when combined with radiation treatment. The shorter approach could matter because long-term hormone therapy often causes side effects like fatigue, bone loss, and sexual dysfunction, so reducing its duration without sacrificing effectiveness would be a meaningful win for patients. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that a targeted radiation therapy called Lutetium-177-PSMA — which delivers radiation directly to prostate cancer cells — showed promising results in men whose prostate cancer had spread to other parts of the body but was still responding to hormone-lowering treatment. Across 14 studies, the therapy helped shrink or slow the cancer in a large share of patients, and side effects were generally mild, especially when compared to more aggressive treatments. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Guidelines
PubMed · September 1, 2026
According to the European Association of Urology (EAU) and five partner medical organizations, updated 2026 guidelines recommend that men at risk for prostate cancer begin a personalized screening plan around age 50, with the timing tailored to each person's overall health and life expectancy. The guidelines also recommend using a specialized MRI scan before any biopsy to avoid unnecessary procedures, and for men diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer, closely monitored observation — rather than immediate treatment — is considered the right approach. These updates matter because they aim to help people with prostate cancer get the most accurate diagnosis possible while avoiding treatments that may carry more risk than benefit for their particular situation.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient should follow a risk-adapted screening strategy for prostate cancer, and what that would look like for the patient's specific situation.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
A study found that a blood test called Stockholm3 may help doctors predict which men with low-risk prostate cancer — who are being monitored rather than treated right away — are likely to see their cancer become more aggressive over time. When the test score was low, it correctly identified most men who did not need an immediate follow-up biopsy (a procedure where a small tissue sample is taken from the prostate), potentially sparing about 1 in 5 men from an unnecessary biopsy without missing any cases that had become seriously more dangerous. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that when men with advanced prostate cancer had a type of surgery that removes only the hormone-producing tissue inside the testicles — while leaving the outer shell in place — they reported feeling more satisfied with their treatment compared to men who had the entire testicle removed. However, the tissue-sparing surgery also left slightly higher levels of testosterone (the male hormone that can fuel prostate cancer growth) and PSA (a protein the prostate makes, used to track cancer activity) in the bloodstream afterward, which could be a concern worth discussing with a doctor. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
A study found that among Black patients with prostate cancer that had spread to other parts of the body, adding the drug darolutamide to standard hormone-blocking treatment reduced the risk of the cancer growing or causing death by 49% compared to hormone-blocking treatment alone — a result that matched what was seen in the broader group of patients studied. This matters because Black men are disproportionately affected by prostate cancer, and it's meaningful to see data specifically looking at outcomes in this group. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that combining a targeted radiation treatment called Lutetium-177-PSMA — which delivers radiation directly to prostate cancer cells — with a drug called capecitabine, which helps make cancer cells more sensitive to radiation, appeared safe in a small group of 12 men with advanced prostate cancer that had stopped responding to standard treatments. Half of the patients saw their PSA levels (a protein in the blood that can signal prostate cancer activity) drop by at least 50%, which is considered a meaningful response. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that for people with prostate cancer that hasn't spread beyond the prostate, a treatment called high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) — which uses sound waves to destroy cancer cells without surgery — was linked to better sexual function and fewer problems with bladder control (leaking urine) compared to robotic surgery, at least in the first two years. The two treatments appeared similar when it came to serious complications and the need for follow-up treatments. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) might help the patient maintain better sexual function compared to robot-assisted surgery for treating localized prostate cancer.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that for people with prostate cancer that had spread to a limited number of spots in the body, using a special imaging scan (called a PSMA PET/CT scan — a highly detailed scan that can detect cancer cells) to find any remaining active cancer after initial treatment helped doctors decide whether to target those leftover spots with surgery or focused radiation. This approach led to undetectable levels of PSA (a protein in the blood that rises when prostate cancer is active) in a meaningful number of patients, suggesting that hunting down and treating remaining cancer sites after the first round of treatment may help improve outcomes. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient should ask about the CHAMPION trial studying apalutamide plus castration followed by additional targeted therapy for prostate cancer that has spread to a limited number of sites.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
A study looked at whether using a wearable fitness tracker or taking part in online educational workshops — or both — could help men with prostate cancer feel less fatigued (a very common and draining side effect of cancer and its treatment). The researchers found it was difficult to recruit and keep participants in the study, which means the approach needs more work before it can be properly tested on a larger scale. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that for prostate cancer that has spread and still responds to hormone treatment, combining multiple therapies together may help slow the disease's progression compared to using just two medications — but none of the three-drug combinations clearly helped people live longer than the two-drug approach in this analysis. The study looked at data from 23 trials involving nearly 19,000 patients, making it one of the most comprehensive comparisons of its kind, which could help doctors and patients have more informed conversations about treatment options. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
A study is examining a question that matters a lot for people with prostate cancer: if a patient's PSA level — a protein in the blood that signals cancer activity — rises after surgery to remove the prostate, but advanced scans show no sign of cancer anywhere in the body, does radiation treatment right away actually help compared to simply watching and waiting? Researchers found enough uncertainty in past data to justify running a proper study, so they are now enrolling 312 patients and randomly assigning them to either receive radiation immediately or hold off on treatment until scans show the cancer has visibly returned. The answer could help doctors and patients make a more informed, personalized choice about whether to go through radiation — which has real side effects — when there is no visible cancer to treat yet. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that a scoring system called PRI-MUS — used with a newer type of ultrasound imaging called micro-ultrasound — was fairly reliable at identifying prostate cancers that actually need attention (meaning aggressive enough to require treatment, not slow-growing ones likely to cause no harm). In particular, when a lesion scored low on the PRI-MUS scale, there was a strong chance it was not a serious cancer, which could help doctors feel more confident about which areas truly need to be biopsied. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
A study found that when men are screened for prostate cancer using a PSA test — a blood test that can detect signs of prostate cancer early — some cancers found this way might never have caused any harm or symptoms in the person's lifetime. Researchers found this risk of 'overdiagnosis' (finding a cancer that didn't really need to be found) was much higher in older men: for men screened at age 80, there was a 58% chance the cancer would never have been caught through normal care, compared to only 16% for men screened at age 50, largely because older men are more likely to die from other causes before the cancer ever becomes a problem. This matters because treatment for prostate cancer can affect quality of life, so finding cancers that may never cause harm could lead to unnecessary treatment. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Guidelines
PubMed · September 1, 2026
According to multiple major medical organizations — including the European Association of Urology, the American Urological Association, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, among others — a treatment called lutetium-177 PSMA therapy is now recommended for people with advanced prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body and is no longer responding to hormone-blocking treatments. This therapy works by delivering radiation directly to prostate cancer cells using a molecule that seeks them out, and guidelines across six major organizations agree it should be a standard option for eligible patients in this situation. Because the guidance comes from so many respected bodies at once, it signals a meaningful shift in how advanced prostate cancer is treated — making it worth discussing with their doctor, especially if other treatments have stopped working.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether lutetium-177 PSMA therapy might be an option the patient should know about for treating the patient's advanced prostate cancer.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
A study found that when people with prostate cancer weigh their treatment options, both patients and their doctors consistently put survival — meaning living longer — at the top of their list of priorities, even when balancing that against concerns about side effects. Avoiding long-term side effects also mattered a great deal, suggesting that quality of life alongside length of life is a real consideration in treatment decisions. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that combining a PARP-blocking drug called pamiparib with abiraterone (a hormone-based prostate cancer treatment) and standard hormone therapy before surgery helped shrink tumors significantly in some people with high-risk localized prostate cancer — meaning cancer that's aggressive but hasn't yet spread far. About 28% of patients had little to no cancer left in the removed tissue after treatment, and 62% had their tumors shrink enough to be classified at a lower, less dangerous stage before surgery. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with prostate cancer who receive a treatment called hypofractionated radiotherapy — where higher doses of radiation are given over fewer sessions than traditional radiation — can experience side effects affecting the bladder and urinary tract in roughly 1 in 8 to nearly half of patients, depending on the approach used. One interesting finding is that patients who already have urinary symptoms before treatment may be more likely to develop these side effects later, which could help doctors identify who needs extra monitoring or a tailored plan. Scientists are exploring ways to reduce these side effects, such as carefully limiting radiation exposure to nearby organs and customizing treatment based on how sensitive each person's body is to radiation. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that AI tools — especially a type called deep learning, where computers teach themselves to spot patterns — showed strong accuracy in detecting and predicting the course of prostate cancer across 43 studies. These AI tools were particularly good at diagnosing prostate cancer, correctly identifying it about 85% of the time on average, which could one day help doctors catch the disease earlier or more reliably. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that combining three treatments — a hormone-blocking therapy called ADT, a chemotherapy drug called docetaxel, and a newer hormone-blocking pill called darolutamide — showed the strongest results for helping people with prostate cancer that had spread and wasn't yet resistant to hormone therapy, both in slowing the disease and in improving survival compared to ADT alone. However, the combination that included chemotherapy also came with more serious side effects, which may be part of why many patients are still only receiving the simpler, older treatment. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that the trillions of bacteria and microbes living in and on the body — called the microbiome — may play a meaningful role in prostate cancer, from how it's detected to how well treatments work. For example, certain bacteria found in urine showed promise in helping identify prostate cancer, and shifts in gut bacteria were linked to the cancer becoming harder to treat over time. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that a high-precision form of radiation treatment — which delivers very focused, powerful doses directly to tumors in the spine — worked well for prostate cancer patients whose cancer had spread to the spine, with more than 90% of treated spots kept under control at one to two years. The review also suggested that how well the cancer responds to hormone-lowering treatments may play a role in how well this radiation approach works, meaning outcomes could differ depending on where someone is in their prostate cancer journey. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that combining a newer experimental drug called bavdegalutamide with an existing prostate cancer treatment called abiraterone showed some promising signs in men whose cancer had stopped responding to abiraterone alone — nearly half of patients saw their PSA (a protein in the blood that doctors use to track prostate cancer activity) stabilize or improve. The side effects were mostly mild to moderate, with fatigue and nausea being the most common. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · August 29, 2026
Researchers found that a newer version of a chemotherapy drug called docetaxel — reformulated so that patients no longer need to take steroids before each infusion — appeared to be reasonably safe at certain doses for people with advanced prostate cancer that had stopped responding to hormone treatment. In a small group of 11 patients, about a third saw their PSA (a protein in the blood that doctors use to track prostate cancer) drop significantly, and nearly half showed improvement on scans. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · August 26, 2026
Researchers found that using MRI scans before prostate cancer surgery to help surgeons better preserve a small tube called the urethra — which carries urine out of the body — helped more patients regain bladder control faster after their prostate was removed. In the study, 64% of patients in the MRI-guided group were back to what doctors call 'social continence' (meaning they could go about daily life without significant leaking) within one month, compared to 42% in the standard surgery group, and they got there about 18 days sooner on average. Importantly, the cancer removal results looked similar between both groups, suggesting this more tailored approach didn't appear to compromise safety. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · August 26, 2026
A study found that a prostate cancer drug called darolutamide, when added to standard hormone-blocking treatment and chemotherapy, helped men with advanced prostate cancer live longer and also slowed down how quickly their cancer worsened and their pain got worse — without causing noticeably more side effects. Importantly, patients' overall quality of life and comfort levels stayed about the same as those who didn't receive the extra drug, which suggests the added benefit didn't come at the cost of feeling worse day-to-day. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · August 19, 2026
Researchers found that combining two existing scoring systems — used to classify how advanced prostate cancer is when it has spread to other parts of the body — did a better job of predicting how patients would do over time than either system used alone. They also found that a medication called apalutamide (used alongside hormone-blocking therapy) helped most groups of patients live longer, but did not seem to offer a clear benefit for patients whose cancer had already spread at the time they were first diagnosed and who had the lowest-risk profile by both scoring systems. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
For informational purposes only. Not medical advice. Always consult a physician before making any health decisions.