First Sussex patients receive cutting-edge prostate cancer treatments as part of national trial

Patients in Sussex with advanced prostate cancer are now receiving innovative, personalised treatments as part of a major national clinical trial being delivered in Brighton.

The Phase 3 STAMPEDE2 trial is being carried out at the Royal Sussex County Hospital by a multidisciplinary team at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSussex). It forms part of a wider effort to expand access to cutting-edge research for local patients.

The study is exploring whether combining standard hormone therapy with targeted treatments can improve survival rates and disease control. Two new approaches are being offered — a radiopharmaceutical drug designed to seek out cancer cells, and a highly targeted form of radiotherapy.

Prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK, with around one in eight people expected to develop it during their lifetime. While treatments such as hormone therapy and chemotherapy can be effective, they are not always suitable for advanced cases, particularly when the disease has spread.

Among those taking part in the trial is 61-year-old Darius Aibara, from Worthing, who is the first Sussex patient to receive the targeted drug Lutetium PSMA. Diagnosed last October, he is now undergoing treatment alongside chemotherapy and hormone therapy.

“The treatment itself has been painless, and everything has gone very smoothly,” he said.

“The team at the Royal Sussex County Hospital have been fantastic and the care I’ve received has been excellent. It’s also a nice setting for treatment. I’ve had no problems at all.

“I feel optimistic about how things are going and I’m hopeful the treatment will continue to work.”

Patients in the trial receive either the drug therapy or a precision radiotherapy technique known as SABR, both designed to target cancer more accurately while limiting damage to healthy tissue.

Professor Sabina Dizdarevic at UHSussex said: “We’re delighted to see the first Sussex patients now benefiting from innovative treatments and taking part in the STAMPEDE2 trial as part of our Trust's commitment to give patients better access to research.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to see local patients, such as Darius, receiving therapies that are at the forefront of prostate cancer research. This trial is an important step in developing more effective treatments for advanced prostate cancer, and we are proud that the team at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton is playing a key role in this national research.”

The trial is also supported by the Sussex Cancer Fund, which is helping connect patients with research opportunities more quickly.

Steve Crocker, Trustee and Head of Research at the Sussex Cancer Fund, said:

“We’re proud to fund a wide range of bench-to-bedside research that helps deepen our understanding of cancer and ultimately improve outcomes for patients. Supporting projects like STAMPEDE2 at Royal Sussex County Hospital is incredibly important to us, as it not only strengthens clinical research in Sussex but also has the potential to deliver immediate benefits for people affected by cancer. Alongside funding vital research, we also support a number of patient services aimed at making the cancer journey more manageable and providing practical support to those who need it most.”

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