Research Interest

Clinical Study of Hypofractionation in Prostate Cancer (CHHiP)

The trial addresses the fraction sensitivity of prostate cancer comparing standard treatment (2Gy daily fractions) to a total dose of 74Gy in 37 fractions over seven weeks or experimental hypofractionated treatment schedules (3Gy daily fractions) to total doses of 57Gy in 19 fractions over 3.8 weeks and 60Gy in 20 fractions over four weeks.  All groups will use conformal and intensity modulated radiotherapy techniques.

The main aim is to test the hypothesis that hypofractionated radiotherapy schedules for localised prostate cancer will improve the therapeutic ratio by either improving tumour control or reducing   normal tissue side effects.

The CHHiP trial has three parts.  Part 1 recruited 150 men (Oct 02 - Aug 04) from two centres (The Royal Marsden Hospital and Clatterbridge Oncology Centre).  Part 2 recruited nearly 300 men from 12 centres between Aug 04 and Aug 06 to give a total of 449 patients.  Part 3, supported by CR-UK, extends to further centres and started recruiting in August 2006.  Initial recruitment target was 2,160 men, which was increased to 3,160 following further CTAAC review in Summer 2009. This is, presently, the largest academic treatment study undertaken in prostate cancer

Primary endpoint:  Freedom from biochemical (PSA) failure or prostate cancer recurrence

Secondary endpoints:

• Acute and late radiation induced side effects
• Development of metastases
• Recommencement of hormonal treatment for disease occurrence
• Cause specific and overall survival
• Aspects of quality of life and health economics
• Models of normal tissue and tumour control