New Trial For Men With Prostate Cancer Aims To Reduce Side-Effects Of Radiotherapy

Monday, 27 April 2026 16:40

By Daniel Maher

The trial plans to recruit more than 130 patients across Ireland.

Men with prostate cancer are to be the subject of a major new all-Ireland trial which aims to reduce the side-effects of radiotherapy.

The INSPIRE trial is for men with localised prostate cancer who are suitable for treatment with Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR).

It is sponsored by Cancer Trials Ireland and supported by the Irish Research Radiation Oncology Group.

The trial plans to recruit more than 130 patients across Ireland.

Speaking on Kildare Today, CEO of Cancer Trials Ireland, Angela Clayton-Lea said that the new trial is very important for the treatment of prostate cancer.

She says that the new trials would result in far fewer appointments for patients.

They also aim to "reduce urinary, bowel and sexual side effects to make it much more similar to conventional treatments".

Around 5,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer across the island of Ireland each year, and doctors say there is a clear need to continue improving treatment and reducing its impact on quality of life.

The study will open across multiple centres in Dublin, including St Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network, Beacon Hospital and Mater Private Dublin, as well as at Bon Secours UPMC and Cork University Hospital in Cork, University Hospital Galway, the Mid-Western Radiation Oncology Centre in Limerick, Whitfield Hospital in Waterford, Belfast City Hospital, and the North West Cancer Centre in Derry.

Patients will be followed up for five years.

The full interview can be heard below.