Major milestone reached in Movember-funded prostate cancer study

We've reached a major milestone in a Movember-funded study testing a simple but powerful idea: can tracking and responding to how people with prostate cancer feel—both physically and emotionally—make a real difference in their care?

The IRONMAN EMPRO (Engaging Men in Patient Reported Outcomes) sub-study has completed recruitment. Study sponsor, The Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium (PCCTC) has led seven hospitals across four countries to enrol 181 participants. This marks a major step forward in research that could help improve care and quality of life for men with advanced prostate cancer.

What is IRONMAN EMPRO?

EMPRO, an IRONMAN sub-study, is one of the first studies in the world to test whether using regular, remote monitoring of symptoms to trigger follow-up care would lead to better outcomes for those with prostate cancer compared to the current standard of care.

Here’s how it works: participants complete short monthly check-ins about key symptoms like anxiety, pain, sleep issues, fatigue, and depression. If their responses show they might be struggling a little, the system provides them with self-care resources. If their responses show they might be struggling more, the system not only provides those resources but also notifies their doctor, who will check in with them within 48 hours.

It's like a weather alert, helping doctors step in before a storm hits.

"We are so incredibly grateful to all of the patients who have enrolled, and excited to learn whether this method of streamlining communication and support during therapy will make a meaningful difference in improving patients’ outcomes and experiences," said Dr. Alicia Morgans, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Principal Investigator of the EMPRO sub-study.

What does this mean for men facing advanced prostate cancer?

EMPRO is about putting people’s experiences at the heart of their care. Here’s what this research could help achieve:

1. A better understanding of what men with advanced prostate cancer go through day-to-day.
2. A roadmap for using patient-reported data to personalise and improve treatments in real time.

“Movember’s mission is to help men live healthier, longer lives. When it comes to prostate cancer, that means treating the person, not just the cancer," said Sarah Weller, Director of Prostate Cancer at Movember.

“The EMPRO sub-study is part of our commitment to finding the most effective ways to personalise cancer care for better outcomes. We’re proud to be funding a study that’s listening to what men with advanced prostate cancer are experiencing and responding in real time with timely, tailored care.”

Next phase unlocked

With all 181 participants now on board, the focus turns to data collection which will wrap up in a year's time. After that, Dr. Alicia Morgans and the EMPRO design team will dive into the data to uncover what worked, what didn't, and what we can learn from this study. Results are expected to be published at the end of 2026.

The team behind the scenes

Reaching the recruitment target is a major achievement made possible by the dedicated international team behind this project. Movember would like to acknowledge Dr. Alicia Morgans, the EMPRO protocol design team, the PCCTC IRONMAN team led by project managers Marie Grant and Laurel Cannon, and the following hospitals and clinics taking part:

Australia:

• Eastern Health
• Macquarie University Hospital

Canada:

• University of Alberta - Cross Cancer Institute

United Kingdom:

• Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
• University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

United States:

• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
• Weill Cornell Medical Center
• NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital (Weill Cornell sub-site)

About IRONMAN

EMPRO is a sub-study of the International Registry for Men with Advanced Prostate Cancer (IRONMAN). IRONMAN is a global, prospective observational study designed to enhance the understanding and treatment of advanced prostate cancer. Sponsored and coordinated by the PCCTC, the registry aims to enrol 5,000 participants, focusing on those with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) and castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).