MRI Guided Transurethral HIFU for Various Prostate Diseases (HIFU-PRO)

June 15, 2023 updated by: Turku University Hospital

Feasibility and Safety of Transurethral HIFU in Various Prostate Diseases; Particularly Prostate Cancer

This study assesses feasibility and safety, the primary outcomes, of MRI guided transurethral high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation for prostate diseases (PD). We will enrol 10 patients to each group with criteria as follows: localised prostate cancer (PC); locally advanced PC; locally recurrent PC after external beam radiation therapy (EBRT); benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Secondary outcomes are both oncologic and functional outcomes and imaging based follow up after HIFU therapy will be also assessed.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

Prostate cancer (PC) is the most common cancer among men in Finland with the highest incidence of all cancers. Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) also has high prevalence, increasing with age. BPH may cause harmful lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and it is demonstrated that by the age of 60, over 50 % of men have clinically significant prostate BPH and up to 40 % of men over age 60 suffer from LUTS.

Currently curative intended therapies for PC, radiation therapy (RT) and radical prostatectomy (RP), offer desirable oncologic local control but have major impact on genitourinary function and quality of life (QoL). Some patients are unfit for surgical procedures or cannot tolerate RT due to concomitant medical conditions or prior therapies. At present lower risk PC is increasingly managed with active surveillance. However, diagnosis of PC and active surveillance itself may both lead to notable psychological and emotional burden impairing QoL. Further, significant amount of cases in some point end up in radical treatment resulted from either risk profile upgrade or patients preference. For these patients optimal treatment might be a focal therapy with sufficient oncologic control and minor impact on QoL.

There is controversy related to optimal treatment in local recurrence after RT. 45% of patients will have local recurrence after RT within 8 years after treatment. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) decelerate disease only temporarily and salvage RP includes major risks and is technically demanding, but can provide long-term cure in selected patients.

On the aspect of palliation, there is an eminent need for less invasive supplementary therapies since patients presenting with metastatic or locally advanced PC, generally have low performance status.

Management of benign prostatic obstruction has also faced challenges with conventional treatment modalities, since ageing and profuse co-morbidities among patients have increased. Transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) is still the standard treatment in severe LUTS caused by BPH.

Recently the major development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been achieved improving PC diagnosis and local staging. Even though PC is often multifocal, evidence indicates that both clinical outcome and prognosis of PC is determined predominantly by index lesion. Because of the notable risk of morbidities involving radical treatments and significant evolution of MRI, focal therapies have attained wide interest. One of the most interesting focal mini-invasive treatment is high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). HIFU technique exploits thermal energy; by raising target temperature over 55°C target volume is destroyed due to acute coagulation necrosis. Modern devices delivering HIFU to the prostate are transurethral and emit directional high intensity ultrasound to the focused regions utilising superior MRI guidance compared to older generation ultrasound guidance. Magnetic resonance thermometry technique utilizes noninvasive measurement of tissue temperature allowing monitoring real time temperature changes during treatment. The MRI treatment system is equipped with active dynamic temperature feedback control designed to maintain a constant temperature inside the target volume and at the boundary of the target area. By this way conformal three-dimensional ablative volumes with great spatial accuracy and precision can be achieved simultaneously avoiding damages to the surrounding sensitive tissues. Therapy verification is confirmed instantaneously after treatment by acquiring contrast enhanced MRI (CE-MRI) that visualise the non-perfused-volume (NPV) describing the success of total ablation of the target prostate volume.

This prospective clinical single center feasibility and safety study will evaluate the role of MRI guided transurethral HIFU ablation for various PD and clinical settings. All enrolled patients have prostate pathology and different clinical situation with need of definitive interventions and they are divided to four arms/groups according to specific inclusion criterion. Group 1 localised PC prior to RP, group 2 symptomatic locally advanced PC in need of palliative surgical intervention, group 3 locally recurrent PC after EBRT and group 4 symptomatic BPH in need for intervention.

The hypothesis is that MRI guided transurethral HIFU is feasible and safe in various prostate diseases and clinical settings. If hypothesis is proven for certain or for all groups, the investigators will continue with that group or groups to phase 2 clinical multi-institutional studies.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

87

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

      • Turku, Finland, 20521
        • Department of Urology

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Shared inclusion criteria for all groups:

  • Language spoken: Finnish, English or Swedish
  • Mental status: Patients must be able to understand the meaning of the study
  • Informed consent: The patient must sign the appropriate Ethics Committee (EC) approved informed consent documents in the presence of the designated staff.
  • Potential prostate biopsies obtained > 6 weeks before HIFU/TULSA-PRO treatment (or at the discretion of PI)
  • Eligible for MRI
  • Eligible for spinal or general anesthesia (ASA 3 or less)
  • Succession of urethral catheterization/Patency of prostatic urethra confirmed if needed with pre-HIFU cystoscopy

Group-specific inclusion criteria

Group 1. Localized PC prior to RP

  • All localized PC patients planned for robot assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) with normal standards of care are eligible for this study (EAU guidelines)
  • MRI-visible biopsy proven PC (biopsies obtained < 6 months before treatment)

Group 2. Locally symptomatic locally advanced and/or metastatic prostate cancer in need of palliative surgical intervention

  • gross recurrent hematuria
  • bladder outlet obstruction with intractable symptoms
  • urinary retention

Group 3. Locally recurrent PC after EBRT as a salvage approach

  • Phoenix criteria of biochemical relapse (PSA nadir + 2 ng/ml)
  • MRI-visible, biopsy proven local recurrence
  • No evidence of distant metastasis in PSMA-PET/CT

Group 4. Symptomatic BPH with need for intervention

  • Patients planned for surgical procedure (e.g. TURP, laservaporization or open adenomectomy) with normal standards of care are eligible for this study
  • Bilobular hyperplasia (enlarged transition zone lobes) without dominant enlargement of periurethral zone "median lobe" assessed in cystoscopy and TRUS
  • No suspicion of cancer on baseline MRI (PI-RADS v2 lesion < 3)

Shared exclusion criteria for all groups:

  • Prostate calcifications >1cm in largest diameter located in the anticipated treatment sector on baseline TRUS or MRI
  • Prostate cysts >1cm in largest diameter located in the anticipated treatment sector on baseline TRUS or MRI
  • History of chronic inflammatory conditions (e.g. inflammatory bowel disease) affecting rectum (also includes rectal fistula and anal/rectal stenosis)
  • Contraindications for MRI (cardiac pacemaker, intracranial clips etc.)
  • Uncontrolled serious infection
  • Claustrophobia
  • Hip replacement surgery or other metal in the pelvic area
  • Severe kidney failure (glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <30ml/min/1.73m2) exclude usage of gadolinium in contrast-enhanced imaging unless justifiable based on the clinical judgment of the responsible radiologist and/or urologist.
  • Known allergy to gadolinium
  • Known allergy or contraindication to GI anti-spasmodic drug (e.g. glucagon, buscopan)
  • Inability to insert urinary catheter (i.e. urethral stricture disease)
  • Patients with artificial urinary sphincter, urethral sling or any penile implant
  • Any other conditions that might compromise patient safety, based on the clinical judgment of the responsible urologist

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Localised PC prior to RP
MRI guided transurethral HIFU ablation is targeted to MRI visible, biopsy proven, index lesion(s) within prostate and if possible with 5mm angular extension (imaging based healthy tissue marginal) to both sides from the tumour boundary in transverse plane and 5 mm in coronal plane. The ablative effect is aimed to reach prostate capsule by heating the control boundary (3 mm from capsule) to temperature 57 °C. The focal approach is intended to be radical as for index lesion.
The technology is developed to ablate targeted benign and malignant prostate tissue through transurethrally inserted probe that transmit ultrasound energy under MRI guidance and control. The therapeutic endpoint of this method is thermal coagulation of prostate tissue.
Other Names:
  • TULSA-PRO (Profound Medical Inc), Device: PAD-105
Experimental: Symptomatic locally advanced PC
MRI guided transurethral HIFU ablation is targeted to main prostatic malignant tumour squeezing and/or invading the prostatic urethra and/or bladder neck. The approach is intended to be palliative.
The technology is developed to ablate targeted benign and malignant prostate tissue through transurethrally inserted probe that transmit ultrasound energy under MRI guidance and control. The therapeutic endpoint of this method is thermal coagulation of prostate tissue.
Other Names:
  • TULSA-PRO (Profound Medical Inc), Device: PAD-105
Experimental: Locally recurrent PC after EBRT

MRI guided transurethral HIFU ablation is targeted to MRI visible, biopsy proven, local recurrent index lesion(s) within and/or surrounding prostate and if possible with 5 mm angular extension to either side from the tumour boundary in transverse plane and 5 mm in coronal plane. The approach is intended to be focal and salvage.

The whole-gland HIFU ablation approach will be considered in case of extensive organ confined recurrent prostate cancer (positive biopsies for malignancy from extensive/multiple area in prostate and/or extensive/multiple lesion(s) at baseline MRI) to cover whole prostate.

The technology is developed to ablate targeted benign and malignant prostate tissue through transurethrally inserted probe that transmit ultrasound energy under MRI guidance and control. The therapeutic endpoint of this method is thermal coagulation of prostate tissue.
Other Names:
  • TULSA-PRO (Profound Medical Inc), Device: PAD-105
Experimental: Symptomatic BPH
MRI guided transurethral HIFU ablation is targeted to adenomas of the prostate. The HIFU sector encompasses bilateral (anterolateral) transitional zones between bladder neck and verumontanum (colliculus seminalis).
The technology is developed to ablate targeted benign and malignant prostate tissue through transurethrally inserted probe that transmit ultrasound energy under MRI guidance and control. The therapeutic endpoint of this method is thermal coagulation of prostate tissue.
Other Names:
  • TULSA-PRO (Profound Medical Inc), Device: PAD-105

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Evaluate targeting accuracy of HIFU ablation separately in each study arm/group.
Time Frame: The date of HIFU treatment

Quantitative analysis of targeting accuracy is defined as spatial difference between target prostate region in treatment planning phase and the target temperature isotherm (57°C) at the end of HIFU treatment on MRI thermometry. The measure used is dice similarity coefficient (DSC - unitless from 0 to 1) which is a statistical validation metric to measure the degree of spatial overlap between two regions.

The measure is a composite outcome measure reported as single value for each arm/group.

The date of HIFU treatment
Evaluate targeting accuracy volume of HIFU ablation separately in each study arm/group.
Time Frame: The date of HIFU treatment

Quantitative analysis of targeting accuracy volume illustrates over- and under-treatment representing the amount of tissue ≥ target temperature 57°C outside the target volume and < target temperature 57°C inside the target volume, respectively.

Over- and under-treatment volumes are expressed as a % of the target volume.

The measure is a composite outcome measure reported as single value for each arm/group.

The date of HIFU treatment
Radiologically determined treatment accuracy of HIFU ablation in localised PC arm/group.
Time Frame: 3-4 weeks from the treatment date
Quantitative analysis of radiologically verified treatment accuracy; determined by comparing targeting volumes on MRI during treatment planning to immediate, 1 and 3 week NPV in CE-MRI following HIFU therapy. The ratio in percentage (%) between target prostate volume (ml) and NPV (ml) will be measured.
3-4 weeks from the treatment date
Histopathologically determined treatment accuracy of HIFU ablation in localised PC arm/group.
Time Frame: 3-4 weeks from the treatment date
Qualitative analysis of treatment accuracy; determined by comparing both targeting volume on MRI during treatment planning and immediate, 1 and 3 weeks NPV following HIFU therapy separately to histopathologically verified coagulation necrosis volume from the removed prostate at 3 week after HIFU therapy. The ratio in percentage between target prostate volume (ml) and NPV (ml) to coagulative necrosis volume (ml) will be measured.
3-4 weeks from the treatment date
Radiologically determined treatment accuracy of HIFU ablation in locally advanced PC arm/group.
Time Frame: 12 months from the treatment date

Quantitative analysis of treatment accuracy; determined by comparing targeting volume on MRI during treatment planning to immediate, 1 week and 12 months NPV in CE-MRI following HIFU therapy.

The ratio in percentage between target prostate volume (ml) and NPV (ml) will be measured.

12 months from the treatment date
Radiologically determined treatment accuracy of HIFU ablation in locally recurrent PC after EBRT arm/group.
Time Frame: 12 months from the treatment date

Quantitative analysis of treatment accuracy; determined by comparing targeting volume on MRI during treatment planning to immediate, 1 week and 12 months NPV in CE-MRI following HIFU therapy.

The ratio in percentage between target prostate volume (ml) and non-perfused volume (ml) will be measured.

12 months from the treatment date
Radiologically determined treatment accuracy of HIFU ablation in BPH arm/group.
Time Frame: 12 months from the treatment date
Quantitative analysis of treatment accuracy; determined by comparing targeting volume on MRI during treatment planning to immediate, 1 week and 12 months NPV in CE-MRI following HIFU therapy. The ratio in percentage between target prostate volume (ml) and NPV (ml) will be measured.
12 months from the treatment date
Safety of MRI guided transurethral HIFU ablation in various prostate diseases
Time Frame: 12 months from the treatment date

Safety is determined in each group and all group together by evaluation of the frequency and severity of device/treatment related adverse events associated with the use of TULSA-PRO system to ablate prostate tissue. The severity of the adverse events are graded according to the Clavien-Dindo Classification of surgical complications.

The measure is a composite outcome measure reported as single value for each arm/group.

12 months from the treatment date

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Preliminary efficacy of HIFU ablation to achieve sufficient tumour control in patients having local recurrent PC after EBRT
Time Frame: 12 months from the treatment date
Histopathological evaluation of the treatment response is based on 2-6-core biopsy results obtained from HIFU treated region/volume at 12 months. The number of biopsies taken is depended on the size and extension of the primary lesion treated with HIFU. The cognitive transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy method will be used to confirm histologically anticipated treatment success; coagulative necrosis/fibrosis/scar tissue of the prostate tissue. The outcome of biopsies (negativity/positivity for prostate cancer) will be measured. The proportion of patients with negative prostate biopsy will be measured at 12 months follow-up visit.
12 months from the treatment date
Image based follow up following HIFU ablation
Time Frame: 12 months from the treatment date
Evaluation and characterisation of image based follow up with repetitive mpMRI (Arm/group 1: immediate, 1 and 3 week, Arms/Groups 2, 3 and 4: immediate, 1 week, 12 month) after HIFU treatment. Image based follow up will be focused on modifications and development of the rim of enhancement surrounding NPV and the evolution of NPV following HIFU treatment.
12 months from the treatment date

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Preliminary efficacy of MRI guided transurethral HIFU ablation in locally recurrent PC after EBRT in terms of serum PSA response.
Time Frame: 12 months from the treatment date
Explore and characterise short- and medium-term pattern of S-PSA response following HIFU ablation. Serum PSA will be measured before HIFU ablation and predetermined interval during follow up protocol after HIFU ablation. The serum PSA trend and nadir following HIFU ablation will be demonstrated.
12 months from the treatment date
Evaluate voiding function by using uroflowmetry before and after HIFU ablation separately in each arm/group.
Time Frame: 12 months from the treatment date

Voiding function is assessed separately in each group/arm by:

- measuring the rate of flow of voided urine using a flowmeter, a device that measures the quantity of urine (volume) voided per unit time (uroflowmetry). The measurement is expressed in millilitres per second (ml/s).

The data from uroflowmetry before and after HIFU ablation will be compared.

12 months from the treatment date
Evaluate voiding function by measuring PVR before and after HIFU ablation separately in each arm/group.
Time Frame: 12 months from the treatment date

Voiding function is assessed separately in each group/arm by:

- post-voided residual urine (PVR) (volume in ml), which estimates the completeness of bladder emptying using a handheld ultrasonic bladder scanner.

The PVR before and after HIFU ablation will be compared.

12 months from the treatment date
Evaluation of QoL following HIFU ablation in each prostate cancer arm/group
Time Frame: 12 months from the treatment date

Evaluation of QoL using standardised questionnaire:

- 26-item short-form version of EPIC, The Expanded Prostate Index Composite

QoL questionnaire before and after HIFU ablation are compared.

The measure is a composite outcome measure reported as single value for each arm/group.

12 months from the treatment date
Evaluation of change in urinary symptoms following HIFU ablation in BPH group
Time Frame: 12 months from the treatment date

Quality of life questionnaire, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), is used to assess urinary symptoms following HIFU therapy. IPSS consists of seven question concerning urinary symptoms (points from 0 to 5) and one separate question concerning quality of life (points from 0 to 6). The total score of questions related to urinary symptoms can range from 0 to 35. The baseline IPSS score is compared to IPSS scores obtained from predetermined follow up protocol following HIFU therapy to characterise HIFU therapy´s short- (1 week, 3 and 6 months) and medium-term (12 months) impact on lower urinary tract function. A significant change in IPSS is defined as a change of > 3 points.

The change in total points of IPSS between baseline and most recent follow up visit is measured.

12 months from the treatment date
Evaluation of change in erectile function following HIFU ablation in BPH group
Time Frame: 12 months from the treatment date

Quality of life questionnaire, International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15), is used to assess sexual function following HIFU therapy. A score of 0-5 is awarded to each of the 15 questions that examine 4 main domain of male sexual function: erectile function, orgasmic function, sexual desire and intercourse satisfaction.

Change in total score and each domain of IIEF-15 separately are measured between the baseline and most recent follow-up visit.

12 months from the treatment date
Evaluate painfulness of HIFU therapy in treating various prostate diseases
Time Frame: 12 months from the treatment date

The pain is assessed predetermined interval during follow up using Visual Analog Scale for pain (VAS for pain, numerical rating scale 1-10).

The measure is a composite outcome measure reported as single value for each arm/group.

12 months from the treatment date

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Collaborators

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Peter Boström, M.D.Ph.D, Department of Urology, VSSHP, University of Turku

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

July 24, 2017

Primary Completion (Estimated)

May 1, 2024

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 12, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 17, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

November 22, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

June 16, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 15, 2023

Last Verified

June 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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