Best Prostate Cancer Clinics in Italy: Where to Find Specialist Care

TL;DR

• Italy has several specialist centres with dedicated expertise in prostate cancer, including major IRCCS cancer institutes and university hospitals in Milan, Rome, Padua, and other regions.
• A strong prostate cancer centre usually brings together urology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, pathology, nuclear medicine, and supportive services.
• The centres below are not ranked. The most suitable option depends on cancer stage, Grade Group, previous care, location, and the type of specialist opinion needed.
• Anonymized experiences shared through mama health frequently highlight questions about PSA results, treatment choices, urinary changes, sexual function, recovery, and uncertainty around follow-up.
• Before choosing a clinic, it can help to ask whether the case will be reviewed by a multidisciplinary prostate cancer team and which diagnostic, surgical, radiation, and systemic therapy services are available in the same centre.

Which are some of the best prostate cancer clinics in Italy?

Italy has several highly specialized centres that provide multidisciplinary prostate cancer care, although there is no single clinic that is best for every situation.

This guide focuses on established cancer institutes and university hospitals with dedicated prostate cancer expertise, multidisciplinary teams, advanced diagnostics, treatment services, or active research programs.

The list is not a ranking.

Istituto Europeo di Oncologia (IEO) — Milan

The Istituto Europeo di Oncologia, or European Institute of Oncology, is a specialist cancer centre in Milan with a dedicated prostate cancer program.

Its prostate cancer pathway brings together specialists involved in urologic surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, imaging, pathology, and other areas. The institute also has dedicated urologic cancer surgery services and performs open, endoscopic, and robotic procedures.

IEO is particularly relevant for someone looking for access to several disciplines within one oncology-focused institution. Its prostate cancer services also connect clinical care with research and clinical trials.

The institute operates a Proton Center alongside its established radiation oncology services. Proton therapy is not appropriate for every prostate cancer situation, so its relevance has to be discussed individually with a specialist.

Location: Milan, Lombardy

Worth considering for: multidisciplinary oncology, urologic surgery, radiotherapy, medical oncology, clinical research, and complex second opinions.

IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele — Milan

IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele is a major university and research hospital in Milan with a dedicated Prostate Cancer Disease Unit and an extensive urological research program.

The hospital's prostate cancer expertise includes urology, robotic surgery, oncology, imaging, and research. Its Urological Research Institute maintains a specific prostate cancer research program, while its clinical structure supports assessment across different stages of disease.

This combination can be particularly relevant when someone is looking for specialist surgical expertise alongside access to an academic research environment.

Location: Milan, Lombardy

Worth considering for: prostate cancer surgery, robotic surgery, multidisciplinary assessment, academic urology, and research.

Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori — Milan

The Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Italy's National Cancer Institute in Milan, has a dedicated Prostate Cancer Unit.

The unit uses a multidisciplinary structure for prostate cancer across different stages. Its specialists include expertise in urologic oncology, radiation oncology, medical oncology, imaging, pathology, nuclear medicine, and active surveillance.

A dedicated multidisciplinary structure can be especially valuable when more than one reasonable management option exists. For example, discussions around active surveillance, surgery, radiotherapy, or systemic therapies may involve different specialists.

Location: Milan, Lombardy

Worth considering for: multidisciplinary prostate cancer assessment, active surveillance, oncology, radiotherapy, complex disease, and specialist second opinions.

Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS — Rome

Policlinico Gemelli in Rome provides specialist prostate cancer care within a large university hospital and comprehensive cancer centre.

Its Urology unit has a strong focus on prostate cancer and robotic surgery. Gemelli also emphasizes multidisciplinary collaboration involving urologists, oncologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine specialists, and imaging experts.

In 2025, the hospital described a dedicated clinical pathway for prostate cancer and its broader development of coordinated prostate cancer services.

This makes Gemelli an important option for people in central and southern Italy who want a large academic centre where several specialist disciplines can be involved.

Location: Rome, Lazio

Worth considering for: robotic prostate surgery, multidisciplinary care, imaging, radiotherapy, nuclear medicine, and university-based specialist assessment.

Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS — Padua and Castelfranco Veneto

The Istituto Oncologico Veneto, or IOV, provides multidisciplinary prostate cancer care through oncology, urologic oncology, radiotherapy, nuclear medicine, imaging, and other specialist services.

Its prostate cancer program includes a multidisciplinary group specifically focused on the disease. Its urologic oncology service includes active-surveillance protocols and radical prostate surgery, while other departments cover radiotherapy and systemic treatment.

IOV also lists prostate cancer clinical trials, making it relevant when someone wants to ask whether a research study may be available for a particular disease stage or previous treatment history.

Location: Padua and Castelfranco Veneto, Veneto

Worth considering for: multidisciplinary assessment, urologic oncology, active surveillance, radiotherapy, systemic therapies, and clinical research.

Humanitas Research Hospital — Rozzano, Milan

Humanitas Research Hospital is another major academic and research hospital in the Milan area with established expertise in prostate cancer and urologic oncology.

Its Urology team works with prostate cancer alongside other urological conditions, with access to minimally invasive and robotic surgical techniques. Humanitas has also described a multidisciplinary model involving urology, oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, pathology, and related specialties.

Its research infrastructure may also be relevant for someone looking for an academic second opinion or discussion of newer approaches.

Location: Rozzano, Milan

Worth considering for: urology, robotic surgery, multidisciplinary assessment, imaging, and research.

What makes a prostate cancer clinic a specialist centre?

A specialist prostate cancer centre combines disease-specific expertise with coordinated input from several medical disciplines.

Prostate cancer does not always require the same approach. The information that specialists consider can include PSA results, biopsy findings, Grade Group or Gleason score, imaging, disease extent, age, general health, previous treatment, and personal priorities.

A well-developed prostate cancer service may therefore involve:

• Urologic oncology
• Medical oncology
• Radiation oncology
• Genitourinary radiology
• Pathology
• Nuclear medicine
• Genetics or hereditary cancer services where relevant
• Sexual-health and urinary-function support
• Rehabilitation services
• Clinical research

Access to several options matters because localized prostate cancer, recurrent disease, and metastatic prostate cancer involve different decisions.

For a simpler explanation of the terminology doctors use, see mama health's guide to how prostate cancer stages are defined and its explanation of what the Gleason score means.

Does choosing a high-volume prostate cancer centre matter?

Experience with prostate cancer procedures and multidisciplinary decision-making is an important factor to ask about when comparing centres.

Volume alone does not establish which hospital is right for a particular person. However, specialist centres are more likely to have established pathways involving urology, oncology, radiotherapy, imaging, pathology, and supportive services.

Some Italian prostate cancer accreditation initiatives also use criteria such as annual case volume and the presence of a multidisciplinary core team when assessing centres.

Useful questions include:

• Does the centre have a dedicated prostate cancer or genitourinary cancer team?
• Will different specialists review the case together?
• How frequently does the centre perform the procedure being discussed?
• Are both surgical and non-surgical options available?
• Is specialist prostate MRI available?
• Is nuclear medicine available when clinically relevant?
• Does the centre provide support for urinary and sexual effects after treatment?
• Are clinical trials available for the relevant stage of disease?

These questions can help structure a specialist consultation without assuming that one hospital or treatment is automatically preferable.

Should you choose a clinic based on robotic surgery?

Robotic surgery can be one factor when choosing a centre, but it should not be the only factor.

Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy is widely available in major Italian urology centres. The technology itself does not determine whether surgery is appropriate or what an individual's outcome will be.

It can be more useful to ask about the whole prostate cancer pathway: surgeon experience, multidisciplinary review, pathology expertise, imaging, recovery support, management of urinary function, and sexual-health services.

For additional background on recovery questions, mama health explains changes that can happen after prostate removal and erectile function after prostate removal.

When might a second opinion at a prostate cancer centre be useful?

A second opinion can be useful when there are several possible approaches, when test results are difficult to interpret, or when someone wants another specialist perspective before making a major decision.

Examples can include:

• Deciding between active surveillance and active treatment
• Comparing surgery and radiotherapy
• Reviewing prostate MRI or biopsy findings
• Understanding a new PSA rise after previous treatment
• Discussing recurrent disease
• Exploring options for advanced or metastatic disease
• Asking about molecular or genetic testing
• Exploring clinical trials

A second opinion does not mean that the original recommendation was wrong. It can help clarify the reasoning behind different options and make questions easier to discuss.

What concerns often come up outside the consultation room?

Experiences shared anonymously through mama health show that the difficult questions often continue after the medical appointment.

Recurring themes include uncertainty about PSA changes, worry while waiting for follow-up results, confusion around Gleason scores and staging, concern about urinary function, sexual changes after prostate surgery, fatigue, and uncertainty about what recovery may look like.

Another recurring theme is information overload. A specialist appointment can include unfamiliar terminology and several options at once. Later, it may be difficult to remember which questions still need answers.

These experience themes are not clinical evidence and do not indicate what will happen to any individual. They can, however, highlight practical questions that others have found important to discuss with their doctors.

mama health offers educational information that can help someone understand terminology, reflect on their own experience, and prepare questions for a medical visit. It does not determine which clinic, investigation, or treatment is appropriate.

For a broader starting point, see the mama health prostate cancer information hub.

What should you bring to a prostate cancer specialist appointment in Italy?

Bringing the main medical records can make it easier for the specialist team to understand what has already been investigated.

Depending on the situation, useful records may include:

• PSA history with dates
• Prostate MRI report and images
• Biopsy pathology report
• Pathology slides or digital pathology files if requested
• CT, PET, bone imaging, or other scans
• Previous surgical reports
• Radiotherapy records
• Current and previous medication information
• Relevant blood-test results
• A summary of other health conditions
• A written list of questions

For an international consultation, ask the centre whether records need to be translated into Italian or English and whether imaging should be uploaded before the visit.

Can someone from outside Italy receive specialist care at these centres?

Many large Italian cancer institutes offer routes for private, international, or second-opinion enquiries, but access procedures differ by hospital.

Before arranging travel, contact the institution directly and ask about:

• Whether remote record review is available
• How to arrange a first specialist consultation
• Which documents must be submitted
• Language support
• Expected administrative requirements
• Whether care is available through the Italian National Health Service, private services, or both
• How further investigations would be coordinated

Availability, referral procedures, and individual specialist schedules can change, so current information should always be confirmed directly with the centre.

How can you compare prostate cancer centres in Italy?

The most useful comparison focuses on the services relevant to the specific situation rather than on a general hospital ranking.

A person with low-risk localized disease may place greater importance on active-surveillance expertise. Someone considering surgery may want to ask about prostatectomy experience and functional rehabilitation. Someone with recurrent or metastatic disease may prioritize medical oncology, nuclear medicine, molecular testing, radiotherapy, or access to clinical research.

A practical comparison can therefore consider:

Multidisciplinary structure: Are urology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, radiology, and nuclear medicine connected?

Disease-specific expertise: Is there a dedicated prostate cancer or genitourinary oncology unit?

Relevant treatment options: Does the centre provide the approaches that may be discussed for this stage of disease?

Diagnostic services: Are specialist prostate imaging and pathology review available?

Research access: Does the centre run prostate cancer studies or clinical trials?

Support after treatment: Are urinary, sexual-health, rehabilitation, or psychological services available?

Location and follow-up: Can ongoing appointments and tests realistically be managed over time?

The appropriate centre is ultimately a personal medical decision that should be discussed with qualified healthcare professionals familiar with the individual medical history.

Which mama health guides can help before a specialist appointment?

Several mama health resources can help make prostate cancer terminology easier to understand before or after a consultation.

• Prostate cancer — overview of the condition and related educational resources.
• How prostate cancer stages are defined — explains stages I–IV and how staging information is used.
• Understanding the Gleason score and Grade Groups — explains terminology commonly found in biopsy reports.
• Changes following prostate removal — covers physical and day-to-day concerns that may arise after surgery.
• Erectile function following prostate removal — explains a common concern after prostatectomy.

These resources provide educational context and can help someone prepare questions for a doctor. They do not replace individualized medical advice.

Disclaimer: This content is informational. mama health offers information and support and does not replace a doctor.