For patients with early recurrent disease defined by a rising PSA after surgery or radiation (often called biochemical recurrence) the focus of Dr. Madan's research program is to extend this potentially indolent phase with out suppressing systemic testosterone levels.  Dr. Madan has explored multiple immune strategies, anti-androgen strategies without androgen deprivation, and radiopharmaceuticals in this setting.  The emphasis of the trials in this setting is to delay the need for androgen suppression, while maintaining quality of life with treatments that are associated with minimal if any toxicity.

Dr. Madan is exploring the role of PET imaging in recurrent prostate cancer by defining the natural history of the disease in this setting.  This approach will help better understand the need for therapy in patients with otherwise negative CT or Tc99 bone scan.  Future trials will use AI (artificial intelligence) to better target areas of aggressive cancer within prostate cancer patients.

While immune checkpoint inhibitors are rarely effective in prostate cancer, Dr. Madan is investigating other immunotherapy strategies in the clinic.  This includes the use of immunocytokines to impact the broader tumor immune microenvironment beyond just T-cells.  The goal here is to deliver immunotherapy in a targeted manner that maximized immune impact while minimizing systemic toxicities.  Dr. Madan has several trials ongoing in many stages of prostate cancer with immunocytokines.