Clinical trial Recruiting at 4 sites Phase1; Phase2 Interventional Ages 18 and up Men only

Assessing the safety and effectiveness of the SpectraCure P18 System for recurrent prostate cancer

Official title: Open-label Clinical Study to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of the SpectraCure P18 System (Interstitial Multiple Diode Lasers and IDOSE® Software) and Verteporfin for Injection (VFI) for the Treatment of Recurrent Prostate Cancer

Run by SpectraCure AB · NCT03067051 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing a new laser treatment for men with recurrent prostate cancer to see if it is safe and effective for those who can't have surgery or other types of radiation.

More Prostate Cancer trials

Quick facts

PhasePhase1; Phase2
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexMen only
Enrollment66 (estimated)
SponsorSpectraCure AB
Industry-sponsored
Drugs / interventionsradiation
Locations4 sites (New York, New York and 3 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedMarch 21, 2017
Main results expectedJuly 31, 2027
Study endsDecember 31, 2027
Registry record updatedMay 1, 2026
Trial IDNCT03067051 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are males over 18 years with histopathologically verified local recurrence of prostate cancer after prior radiation therapy.

Probably not a fit

Patients with locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer will not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This clinical study evaluates the safety and efficacy of the SpectraCure P18 System, which utilizes interstitial multiple diode lasers and verteporfin for injection as a photosensitizer, in treating recurrent prostate cancer. The study aims to establish dose parameters and monitor PSA levels post-treatment to detect potential recurrence. Eligible participants include males over 18 years who have experienced local recurrence after prior radiation therapy and are not candidates for surgery or curative radiotherapy. The study is conducted in multiple locations, including prominent cancer centers in New York, Toronto, and Malmö.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a new, safe option for men with recurrent prostate cancer who have limited treatment alternatives.

How similar studies have gone: While this approach is innovative, similar studies have shown promise in using laser therapy for cancer treatment, indicating potential for success.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Phase 1 Inclusion Criteria:

1. Males \> 18 years who have gone through external or internal, high dose rate (brachy) radiation therapy for localized prostate cancer with histopathologically verified local recurrence.
2. Prostate volume less than 50 cm3 defined by transrectal ultrasound
3. Subject not eligible for surgery or curative radiotherapy
4. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1
5. Expected survival ≥ 8 months
6. Sufficient bone marrow reserve as indicated by; granulocyte count ≥ 1500/mm3, platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm3
7. Adequate renal function as defined by creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg /dl
8. Adequate hepatic function, based on a total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dl, serum glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) ≤ 3 times the upper limit of normal, and alanine transaminase (ALT) ≤ 3 times the upper limit of normal
9. Signed Informed Consent

Phase 1 Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with locally advanced (AJCC 7th edition T3/T4) or metastatic disease
2. Patients who have been treated with seed implantation brachytherapy
3. Gleason score ≥ 8 at initial diagnosis
4. Less than 1 week since surgery (excluding minimal procedures, e.g. vascular access device insertion)
5. Concomitant infection
6. Subjects with other severe concurrent disease that in the judgement of the investigator would make the subject inappropriate for entry into this study
7. Mental incapacity or psychiatric illness that would interfere with the subject's ability to understand and give informed consent or to complete follow-up visits according to the judgement of the investigator
8. Contraindication for photosensitizer
9. Porphyria or other diseases exacerbated by light
10. Known hypersensitivity to verteporfin for injection (VFI) or to any of the excipients
11. Known allergies to porphyrins
12. Tumours known to be eroding into a major blood vessel in or adjacent to the illumination site
13. On-going therapy with a photosensitizing agent
14. Enrolment in another therapeutic clinical study within 3 months prior to randomization and throughout the study.
15. Subjects with a history of CTCAE v4 grade 3 or greater or persistent (\>1 separate episode or symptoms lasting more than 3 months after initiation of medical intervention) grade 2 proctitis attributed to radiation.

Phase 2 Inclusion Criteria:

1. Subjects \> 18 years who have gone through external or internal, high dose-rate (brachy) radiation therapy for localized prostate cancer with histopathologically verified local recurrence.
2. Treatment target volume less than 50 cm3.
3. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1.
4. Expected survival ≥ 12 months.
5. Sufficient bone marrow reserve as indicated by; granulocyte count ≥ 1500/mm3, platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm3.
6. Adequate renal function as defined by creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg /dl.
7. Adequate hepatic function, based on a total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dl, serum glutamate- oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) ≤ 3 times the upper limit of normal, and alanine transaminase (ALT) ≤ 3 times the upper limit of normal.
8. Signed Informed Consent.

Phase 2 Exclusion Criteria:

1. Subjects with locally advanced (AJCC 7th edition T3/T4), regional pelvic lymph node metastasis, or metastatic disease defined by PSMA PET.
2. Subjects who have been treated with seed implantation brachytherapy.
3. Less than 1 week since surgery (excluding minimal procedures, e.g. vascular access device insertion).
4. Concomitant infection.
5. Subjects with other severe concurrent disease that in the judgement of the investigator would make the subject inappropriate for entry into this study.
6. Mental incapacity or psychiatric illness that would interfere with the subject's ability to understand and give informed consent or to complete follow-up visits according to the judgement of the investigator.
7. Contraindication for photosensitizer.
8. Porphyria or other diseases exacerbated by light.
9. Known hypersensitivity to verteporfin for injection (VFI) or to any of the excipients.
10. Known allergies to porphyrins.
11. Tumours known to be eroding into a major blood vessel in or adjacent to the illumination site.
12. On-going therapy with a photosensitizing agent.
13. Enrolment in another therapeutic clinical study within 3 months prior to randomization and throughout the study.
14. Subjects with a history of CTCAE v4 grade 3 or greater or persistent (\>1 separate episode or symptoms lasting more than 3 months after initiation of medical intervention) grade 2 proctitis attributed to radiation.
15. Contraindication for MRI/Gadolinium contrast such as: implants, severe renal impairment (glomerular filtration rate \[GFR\] \<30 mL/min/1.73m2, or previous contrast reactions.
16. On-going or planned hormone therapy.

Where it's running

  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
    New York, New York, United States
    Recruiting
  • Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    Recruiting
  • Skåne University Hospital
    Malmö, Skåne County, Sweden
    Recruiting
  • Reader in Urology, University College London & Honorary Consultant Urological Surgeon, University College London Hospitals Trust
    London, United Kingdom
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.