SOUTHAMPTON doctors are trialling a “breakthrough” injection that could treat prostate cancer without causing side effects.

Patients at the city’s general hospital are the first in the country to be treated as part of a trial, which is being run at centres across the UK.

The targeted drug, known as topsalysin, is delivered directly into a tumour using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and is activated only by a chemical in the prostate known as prostate specific antigen.

As a result, it does not reach surrounding healthy tissue and nerves and could reduce side effects such as impotence and incontinence that are seen with existing treatments.

“This is a fascinating study which uses a state-of-the-art imaging system to track cancer lesions seen on MRI scans and allows injection into the prostate in theatre under ultrasound guidance,” said Tim Dudderidge, a consultant urological surgeon at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.

“As the drug is only triggered in the prostate, neighbouring tissue won’t be damaged if the drug gets into the wrong place.”

His team will purchase an image fusion system to enable a targeted biopsy service to continue after completion of the study.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with more than 46,000 cases diagnosed in the UK every year.

Further funds are required to cover the remainder of the cost and anyone interested in supporting through fundraising or donations can do so through Southampton Hospital Charity.

Patients with low-risk cancers often do not require any treatment but are monitored regularly through blood tests and scans, however, those with intermediate or high-risk tumours require intervention.

For large, aggressive tumours this can mean surgery or radiotherapy to treat the whole prostate gland, often resulting in erection and bladder problems.