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What's New
PubMed · June 3, 2026
A study found that regular PSA screening — a blood test that checks for signs of prostate cancer — helped reduce deaths from prostate cancer, but mainly in men who had no other serious health conditions at the time they started screening. For men who already had other significant health problems, the screening did not show a clear benefit in reducing prostate cancer deaths over a 21-year period. This is worth knowing because it suggests that a person's overall health may play an important role in whether prostate cancer screening is likely to help them — something patients might want to bring up with their doctor.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that a newer surgical approach for removing the prostate — using a single small entry point into the body instead of several — may help patients recover faster. Specifically, people who had the single-entry technique spent less time in surgery, left the hospital sooner, and had their urinary catheter (a temporary tube used to drain urine after surgery) removed earlier. Importantly, the two approaches appeared equally matched when it came to cancer outcomes and serious complications, meaning the faster recovery didn't seem to come at a cost to safety or effectiveness. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that in people with prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, a blood test that detects tiny fragments of tumor DNA — called circulating tumor DNA, or ctDNA — may help predict how the disease will progress. Specifically, patients whose blood showed detectable or higher levels of this tumor DNA were more than twice as likely to die sooner compared to those with little or no tumor DNA in their blood, suggesting this simple blood test could one day help doctors better understand how serious a patient's cancer is. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that a type of imaging scan called a PSMA PET scan — which uses a special tracer to find prostate cancer cells in the body — was better at detecting cancer that had come back after treatment compared to older scanning methods. Among the different PSMA tracers tested, one called 64 Cu-PSMA-617 showed the highest detection rate, meaning it found cancer in more patients than the others. This matters because finding returning cancer earlier and more accurately could help doctors plan better next steps for their patients. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that in men with high-risk prostate cancer that hadn't yet spread to other parts of the body, adding a chemotherapy drug called docetaxel to the standard treatment — which combines radiation and hormone therapy — seemed to lower the risk of death, but only in men who had normal testosterone levels at the time of diagnosis, not in those who already had low testosterone. Men with normal testosterone who also had a high PSA (a protein measured in the blood that can signal prostate cancer activity), more advanced tumors, or a more aggressive cancer grade appeared to benefit the most from the added chemotherapy. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that a newly developed surgical robot called the KangDuo-SR-2000 was used successfully to remove the prostate in 30 men with prostate cancer, with no major complications during or after surgery. About two-thirds of patients were able to control their bladder within a month of having their catheter — a small tube used to drain urine — removed, which is an important quality-of-life concern after this type of surgery. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that in men with prostate cancer receiving radiation treatment, certain genes related to low oxygen levels in tumors and blood vessel growth may help predict which patients are more likely to see their cancer return — and which ones might benefit most from a more intense form of radiation called brachytherapy (where a radioactive source is placed very close to or inside the tumor). Identifying these gene patterns could one day help doctors personalize treatment choices rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that for people with high-risk prostate cancer receiving radiation therapy, a more precisely targeted technique called IMRT caused significantly fewer bowel-related side effects — both during and after treatment — compared to an older radiation method called 3D-CRT. However, IMRT was linked to slightly more mild urinary side effects during treatment, and both techniques worked equally well at keeping the cancer in check over time. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that a newer type of prostate cancer imaging scan, called Cu-SAR-bisPSMA, spotted signs of cancer returning after surgery more than twice as often as the standard scan currently used — catching something suspicious in 78% of patients compared to 36% with the older scan. This matters because when prostate cancer comes back after surgery, finding it early (even when PSA blood levels are still very low) can give doctors more options for where and how to treat it. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that among men with prostate cancer who had surgery to remove their prostate, every single case that later spread to other parts of the body or led to death from prostate cancer occurred in men whose tumor had a specific pattern called 'cribriform' — a particular way the cancer cells are arranged under a microscope. Men without this pattern had none of those serious outcomes over 15 years, while about 14% of those with the cribriform pattern experienced cancer spread or death from prostate cancer. This suggests that identifying this pattern at the time of diagnosis could help doctors better understand which patients may face higher risks down the road. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that men with early-stage prostate cancer who received just two sessions of a precise, high-dose radiation treatment (called stereotactic radiotherapy) had manageable side effects over two years — with urinary and bowel symptoms actually improving between the one-year and two-year marks. Sexual function was the one area that didn't improve over time, which is something patients and their doctors may want to discuss when weighing treatment options. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that advanced prostate cancer that has spread and stopped responding to hormone treatment tends to be what scientists call 'immunologically cold' — meaning the body's immune system isn't doing much to fight the tumor, which makes standard immunotherapy drugs less effective. The study proposed a new step-by-step approach called 'Prime, Activate, Sustain,' where doctors would first use targeted drugs to shake up the tumor's protective environment, then bring in immune-boosting treatments, and finally monitor patients closely to keep the response going. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that a targeted heat-based treatment called microwave ablation — which uses precise imaging to destroy only the cancerous area of the prostate, leaving the rest of the gland alone — kept about 81% of men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer free of significant cancer in the treated area after 12 months. The approach appeared to have a relatively low rate of serious side effects, though some men did experience small but noticeable declines in sexual and ejaculatory function. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that men with prostate cancer who lost muscle mass during treatment — such as hormone therapy or radiation — may have a higher risk of death from causes other than cancer itself. In fact, one study estimated that for every 1% drop in muscle size, the risk of non-cancer death rose by about 9%. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that when using a precise, heat-based treatment called MRI-guided focused ultrasound — which targets prostate cancer tumors without surgery — treating a larger area around the tumor (not just the tumor itself) was linked to better cancer control two years later. Specifically, men whose treatment covered about twice the size of the visible tumor were more likely to show no remaining cancer at follow-up, and this larger treatment zone didn't appear to increase the risk of new erectile problems. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
A study found that a common MRI scoring system used to assess prostate cancer risk — called PI-RADS, which helps doctors decide whether a biopsy is needed — may not work equally well for men of different racial backgrounds. Black men with mid-range scores on this system were significantly more likely to have serious prostate cancer than white men with the same scores, while Asian men with those same mid-range scores were less likely to have cancer detected at all. This suggests the scoring system, which was developed mostly in white populations, may underestimate risk for Black men and overestimate it for Asian men — which could matter a great deal when doctors are deciding whether to recommend a biopsy. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that treating only the cancerous part of the prostate with radiation — rather than the whole gland — may be a promising option for carefully chosen men with early, low-risk prostate cancer. In these patients, the approach showed strong cancer control rates while causing fewer side effects, like urinary problems, compared to full-gland treatment, with most issues being temporary. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that a newer type of ultrasound technology — called micro-ultrasound, which uses higher-frequency sound waves to create sharper images of the prostate in real time — showed a reasonable ability to detect meaningful prostate cancer, catching it correctly about 84% of the time. However, it was less reliable at ruling cancer out when results looked normal, meaning a negative result still left a notable chance that cancer could be present. This makes it potentially useful as a first-pass screening tool to help decide who needs further testing, though not as a definitive answer on its own. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that for people with advanced prostate cancer that has spread and stopped responding to hormone therapy, certain factors before starting a targeted radiation treatment (called PSMA radioligand therapy, which delivers radiation directly to cancer cells) were linked to worse outcomes. Specifically, having cancer that had spread to the liver or bones, being in poor overall physical health, or having previously received chemotherapy were all associated with the cancer progressing sooner or a higher risk of death. This could matter because it may help doctors and patients have more informed conversations about what to expect from this treatment. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
A study found that risk calculators which include MRI scan results are significantly better at identifying prostate cancer — especially the more serious kind — compared to older tools that rely only on things like blood tests and age. Researchers found this improved accuracy could help doctors decide more confidently who actually needs a biopsy (a procedure where a small tissue sample is taken to check for cancer), potentially sparing some men from an unnecessary and uncomfortable procedure. People with prostate cancer or those being monitored for it may want to ask their doctor whether an MRI-based risk calculator has been or could be used as part of their diagnostic process.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that adding a gene-based therapy called aglatimagene — injected directly into the prostate and combined with an antiviral pill — to standard radiation treatment may help people with intermediate or high-risk prostate cancer stay disease-free for longer, compared to radiation alone. This matters because about 1 in 3 people treated with radiation for prostate cancer see their cancer come back, and the treatments used when that happens can be hard on the body. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that certain measurements taken during a special type of scan — called a PSMA PET scan, which tracks how much of a specific protein is showing up on prostate cancer cells — may help predict how well patients will respond to a targeted radiation treatment called Lu-PSMA therapy. Specifically, the size and activity of tumors seen on these scans appeared to be linked to how long patients lived and whether their cancer progressed. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that a protein called HER2 — which sits on the surface of cancer cells and can help them grow — shows up at high levels in a small but meaningful portion of prostate cancer cases, and is especially common in cancers that are more advanced or have spread to other parts of the body. This matters because drugs that target HER2 have already changed treatment for other cancers, like certain breast and stomach cancers, so identifying which prostate cancer patients have high HER2 levels could one day open the door to similar targeted treatments for them. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that men with prostate cancer who did intense bicycle exercise sessions four times a week — right up until their surgery — did not show meaningful changes in the number of immune cells (called T cells) inside their tumors compared to men who did not exercise. T cells are the body's natural cancer-fighting soldiers, and scientists had hoped that exercise might send more of them into the tumor to slow its growth. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
NEJM · May 30, 2026
A study found that combining two types of targeted treatments — one that blocks male hormones driving prostate cancer growth and another that interferes with the cancer's ability to repair its own DNA — may help men with advanced prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Researchers found this combination appeared to reduce the chances of the cancer getting worse compared to standard hormone-blocking treatment alone. This kind of research matters because metastatic prostate cancer (cancer that has spread beyond the prostate) is harder to treat, and finding more effective combinations could be important for patients whose doctors are weighing their options.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient should know about a new study combining PARP inhibitors with hormone therapy for metastatic prostate cancer and whether this approach might be worth considering as a treatment option.
What's New
PubMed · May 15, 2026
A study found that PSA screening — a blood test used to check for signs of prostate cancer — may not significantly reduce the chances of dying from prostate cancer or from any cause overall. Researchers reviewed results from multiple large studies, including newer trials and longer follow-up data, to get a clearer picture of whether routine screening does more good than harm. The findings suggest the benefits and risks of PSA screening are still debated, so people with concerns about prostate cancer may want to have an open conversation with their doctor about what's right for them.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient should get PSA testing for prostate cancer screening, since research shows it may not reduce the chance of dying from prostate cancer.
What's New
PubMed · May 13, 2026
Researchers found that a surgical technique called NeuroSAFE — which involves checking tissue samples in real time during prostate removal surgery to help surgeons preserve the nearby nerves — was associated with better recovery of both erectile function and bladder control compared to standard surgery. The analysis looked at data from over 22,000 patients across 13 studies, suggesting the technique may help reduce two of the most common and distressing side effects of prostate cancer surgery. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · May 11, 2026
A study found that combining two cancer drugs — olaparib and abiraterone — showed promising results in people with prostate cancer that had spread to other parts of the body and carried specific gene mutations (changes in DNA repair genes that can make cancer grow more aggressively). Nearly 78% of patients went almost two years without their cancer visibly progressing on scans, and all patients saw a significant drop in PSA (a protein in the blood that doctors use to track prostate cancer activity). This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · May 4, 2026
A study found that adding nivolumab — an immunotherapy drug that helps the immune system fight cancer — to the usual treatments for a very aggressive form of prostate cancer (radiation and hormone therapy) was linked to better disease control, with 90% of patients showing no signs of the cancer returning after two years, compared to a historical rate of 75%. Side effects from the added drug were generally manageable, with no severe life-threatening reactions reported. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · May 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with castration-resistant prostate cancer — meaning prostate cancer that keeps growing even when testosterone is reduced — who also had a history of a previous cancer didn't live as long overall compared to those with no prior cancer history (about 25 months versus 37 months). An especially interesting finding was that within the group who had a previous cancer, those treated with enzalutamide (a hormone-blocking prostate cancer drug) had notably shorter survival than those treated with abiraterone (another hormone-blocking drug) — though because the group was small, this result should be interpreted cautiously. 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.