Study Overview
Why is COMPPARE important for patients?
What is COMPPARE?
COMPPARE stands for “A Prospective COMparative Study of Outcomes with Proton and Photon RAdiation in PRostate CancEr (COMPPARE).” This study, which is funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and approved by the University of Florida Institutional Review Board (IRB 201801001; PI: Nancy Mendenhall, MD), will compare the quality of life, side effects, and cure rates for prostate cancer patients treated with proton therapy or photon therapy. COMPPARE enrolled 2,524 men between the ages of 30-85 across the US treated with either protons or photons. Participants answer brief surveys regarding treatment choice, quality of life, and side effects for at least 3 years.
What is the goal of COMPPARE?
Our goal is to answer the following patient-centered questions:
- How likely are men to experience different quality of life issues with protons versus photons?
- How likely are men to experience different side effects with either treatment?
- Which treatment will result in a better cure rate?
- Is a shorter treatment regimen as safe and effective as the standard treatment regimen?
COMPPARE patient enrollment closed October 31, 2022. In general, the study enrolled prostate cancer patients who were:
- diagnosed with non-metastatic prostate cancer;
- candidates for radiation therapy; and
- between the ages of 30-85 with a life expectancy ≥8 yrs
Why is COMPPARE important for patients?
Currently, many insurers do not cover proton therapy for prostate cancer due to its higher cost and unanswered questions about its effectiveness compared to photon therapy. This study will directly compare the potential benefits and harms of protons versus photons. It will emphasize patient-centered outcomes and will help future patients make informed treatment decisions. The results will also provide insurers with the data needed to make coverage and policy decisions around the use of proton therapy for prostate cancer.