Evaluating the Role of UroLift in Radiotherapy Planning: Retrospective Analysis of the Largest Known Series of Pre-Radiotherapy Urolifts.
Kathie Wong (NCIC) and Tim Donovan (UoC)
Radiotherapy is a common and effective treatment for prostate cancer. However, to deliver it safely and accurately, the prostate needs to stay in a consistent position each day during treatment. This can be difficult in men who have urinary problems caused by an enlarged prostate, a condition known as bladder outlet obstruction (BOO).
UroLift is a minimally invasive procedure that helps improve urine flow by placing small permanent implants into the prostate to hold open the urinary channel. It is quick, often done under local anaesthetic, and has fewer side effects compared to traditional surgery. In men who have both prostate cancer and urinary problems, UroLift may help with more than just symptom relief—it could also improve how radiotherapy is planned and delivered.
This project looks back at real-world data from men who had UroLift before radiotherapy as part of the COSTAR1 trial and a separate pilot at The Royal Marsden. Together this form the largest known dataset of its kind in the world.
We will explore whether UroLift helped stabilise the prostate, improved the quality of radiotherapy planning, and whether the implants—visible on scans—could act like ‘markers’ to guide treatment more precisely. If successful, this could reduce the side effects of radiotherapy, improve outcomes, and spare men from needing extra procedures.
The findings from this study will help decide whether a larger NHS trial is needed and may improve care for future patients facing prostate cancer treatment.