Stage III Prostate Cancer AJCC v7

This study collects blood and tissue samples from patients with cancer and without cancer to evaluate tests for early cancer detection. Collecting and storing samples of blood and tissue from patients with and without cancer to study in the laboratory may help researchers develop tests for the early detection of cancers.

This study collects urine and stool samples to determine the ability to identify changes in the microbiome (bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live in the gut and urine) of patients with prostate cancer during androgen deprivation therapy and radiation therapy. Radiation therapy has the potential to harm the genitourinary area or the bowel, causing a feeling of urgency or increased inflammation in the area. The radiation therapy is designed to not irradiate the bowel and bladder areas, but there is still some radiation exposure. The gut microbiome has been associated with differences in inflammation as well as producing molecules that influence healing. The purpose of this study is to see whether the microbiome may contribute to the healing of the organs exposed to radiation. Information learned from this study may help researchers discover a new risk factor that could be manipulated to improve the quality of life in patients with prostate cancer.