The Belgian StereoBed study investigates whether prostate cancer recurrence can be treated in just 5 sessions

News (25/11/2025)

The Belgian StereoBed study investigates whether prostate cancer recurrence can be treated in just 5 sessions

For Movember, the international month dedicated to men’s health awareness, the clinical study StereoBed, coordinated within the Jules Bordet Institute, highlights an innovative approach aiming to significantly shorten radiotherapy for patients facing a recurrence of prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. For some patients previously operated on for a localised tumour, the disease can return and require additional treatment. The current standard of care consists of pelvic radiotherapy delivered over 20 to 35 sessions, extending across several weeks. This long course of treatment can have a major impact on daily life.

The Belgian study StereoBed, led by the Jules Bordet Institute, evaluates whether the same treatment can be completed in only 5 high-precision sessions, delivered over 2 weeks. The aim is to maintain equivalent therapeutic effectiveness while considerably reducing the burden for patients.

Coordinated by Prof. Dr Robbe Van den Begin, the study plans to enrol 284 participants, who will be randomly assigned to either the standard schedule or the shortened treatment. Dr Nicolas Jullian, principal investigator at the Jules Bordet Institute, highlights the strong interest shown by patients, reflecting the real impact this approach could have on quality of life.

Recruitment is progressing faster than expected, and the first results are anticipated in 2026.

StereoBed is conducted with the support of Kom op tegen Kanker and the Association Jules Bordet. The study is available in 13 Belgian centres:

• Jules Bordet Institute, Anderlecht
• CHU UCL Namur, Sainte Elisabeth site
• CHU Helora, Jolimont
• Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert
• Iridium network, ZAS Antwerp
• AZ Sint-Maarten, Mechelen
• Jessa Ziekenhuis Hasselt
• Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk
• AZorg Aalst
• AZ Groeninge Kortrijk
• AZ Sint-Jan Brugge
• UZ Leuven
• UZ Gent