TRANBERG® Transperineal MR/US Fusion Laser--Induced Thermal Therapy for Men With Prostate Cancer (TPF-LITT)

January 24, 2023 updated by: Urological Research Network, LLC

TRANBERG® Transperineal MR/US Focalyx Fusion Laser--Induced Thermal Therapy in the Office Setting Under Local Anesthesia

This study is set up as a phase I prospective, single center, device interventional pilot study carried in office setting under local anesthesia. It will assess the tolerance and safety of target fusion ablation of prostate cancer tumors using Laser Induced Thermal Therapy (TFA-LITT) guided by fusion imaging in men 50 to 80 years of age with low to intermediate risk prostate cancer

Prostate Cancer is currently managed with in a discrete fashion where patients either enroll in active surveillance protocols (No intervention) or undergo full intervention via whole gland treatments - most commonly radical surgery or radiation. These treatments have not shown definitive gains in all cause survival and not uncommonly harbor undesirable adverse effects, most notably: impotency and incontinence. Such events elicit significant and noticeable changes on a male lifestyle and for most prostate cancer tumors are considered overtreatment. This study aims to evaluate the use of TFA-LITT in the office setting under local anesthesia - greatly decreasing patient perioperative surgical risk - focused on the organ sparing cancer lesion ablation, where organ function is preserved.

The fundamental objective is to determine the tolerance and safety of TFA-LITT in men with low to intermediate risk prostate cancer, successful performed in the outpatient office-based setting under local anesthesia directed by fusion imaging. Secondary objectives include: 1-Biopsy proven cancer control of ablated areas 12 months after procedure; 2-Uroflowmetry and urinary function Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) at one, three, six, nine and 12 months; 3- Sexual function Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) at one, three, six, nine and 12 months; 4- MRI changes of ablated area one, three and 12 months after TFA-LITT; 5- Absence or presence of ejaculation after TFA-LITT.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

The field of urology currently demands better options for men diagnosed with prostate cancer, the most common solid tumor in the US and Western Europe. Recently, active surveillance has become a main alternative for patients and physicians seeking to avoid the overtreatment phenomenon associated with standard treatments. However, most men on surveillance protocols for prostate cancer end up converting to "definitive" management whether surgery or radiation within 5 years from diagnosis.

The TRANBERG®|Thermal Therapy System (Clinical Laserthermia Systems AB. Scheelevägen 2 | 223 81 Lund, Sweden), is a 25 W, 1064 nm diode laser. It uses a disposable laser applicator 14G that allows the insertion of a laser applicator (15G) with a fiberoptic core of 550µm. This thermal therapy laser system is indicated for minimal invasive ablation procedures so called Laser Induced Thermal Therapy (LITT) or also called Laser Ablation for prostate treatments. During LITT, light causes damage in tissue due to absorption of light and through heat conduction into the tissue of the absorbed energy. Light tissue interaction is reliable, reproducible, and safe. The laser fiber tip induces necrosis near the tip and coagulative effects deeper in tissues through heat conduction. The body cleans up treated tissue over time. Much experience is gained with laser ablation in different organs.

The development of medical fusion devices that incorporate the precise diagnostic findings from MRI with the flexibility of ultrasound has expanded the precision of prostate biopsies and has led thinking into the current management of prostate cancer, opening for consideration the case for partial gland ablation as an option with fewer side effects.12 Conceivably, the most promising role of fusion imaging would be in the management spectrum of prostate cancer. MRI/US fusion imaging has tremendous advantages, it delivers precise anatomical boundaries and perspectives to surgeons as they sought to destroy cancer lesions and spare healthy tissue. A better understanding on their role in ablation treatments is imperative.

The Focalyx® Fusion (Focalyx, 2140 West 68th St, #204a. Miami Lakes, FL, USA) is a novel disruptive medical device that enables an office based transperineal approach to be conducted using real-time fusion. The characteristics of this fusion device and trials studies have been well documented. This theoretically makes available a safe and laser fiber energy delivery that results in expedient and short procedure times. The Focalyx® Fusion has been used safely in the transperineal diagnosis (fusion biopsies) and management (fusion targeted cryoablation) of men with Prostate Cancer in the office setting. However, targeted prostate cryoablation carries some intrinsic disadvantages as it requires high pressure gasses. Argon and helium are not readily available worldwide, and its efficacy depends on several timely cycles demanding procedure times of about an hour or more. LITT can be accomplished in efficient minutes treatment times and can address the multi-focality of prostate cancer quite effectively. Laser ablation has proven effective when conducted in an MRI bore, however, the immensity of these machines, limited size of the bore, prone positioning and constant in and out verification makes this approach not practical. Fusion laser ablation for prostate cancer is a novel concept that can bring together the precision of MRI with the practicality of ultrasound.

The combination of the TRANBERG® laser and the FOCALYX® Fusion medical device will allow us to perform targeted transperineal fusion laser induced thermal therapy (TPF-LITT) of prostate cancer lesions. This approach portends significant advantages that the investigators can consider, among them: lesion directed ablation, sparring of critical organs and structures such as the bladder neck, NVB, urethral sphincter and rectum. Moreover, healthy tissue is spared and can perform its function, if it mirrors what the investigators have accomplished with target fusion cryoablation. It shall be expected that most men will have preservation of some ejaculation, mild changes in sexual function and no incontinence following treatment with TPF-LITT. In fact, from a urinary function status, the investigators expect patients to suffer no harm either subjectively or objectively. However, all these thoughts require rigorous evaluation. Today, there is no data or evaluation of its safety profile if/when conducted in an office setting under local anesthesia. Therefore, in this study, the principal aim is to assess tolerability and safety profile of TRANBERG® TPF-LITT conducted in men with Prostate Cancer in the office setting.

Objective: The primary objective of this study is to assess tolerability and safety, of TRANBERG® TPF-LITT in Prostate Cancer patients with clinically localized disease. The secondary objectives are to evaluate clinical performance, changes in erectile and sexual function as well as imaging volumetric changes in prostate lesions, prostate size as well as cancer control in treated areas Study design: This study is set up as open label, prospective, single center, interventional study.

Study population: Patients with low or intermediate risk prostate cancer ≥ 50 years of age.

Study Intervention: Upon meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria, subjects will undergo prostate ablation planning where the ablation areas will be noted irrespective of location so long, they are confined to this organ. The planning will allow to spare, if possible, critical structures such as the urethra, neurovascular bundles, and bladder neck. TRANBERG® TPF-LITT treatment execution will be conducted under local anesthesia using the FOCALYX® Fusion medical device as guidance for precise laser fiber localization and real-time monitoring. This investigation will employ a single fiber that will be repositioned to destroy several targeted areas to achieve the TFP-LITT goals. The surgeon will deliver the laser energy and adjust if needed. The areas treated will develop coagulative necrosis with scarring as a response to TPF-LITT. Upon conclusion of the procedure, the patient will have a multiparametric MRI of the prostate to determine the extent of ablation with this powerful technology immediately after treatment, and subsequently 1, 3 and 12 months after.

Main study parameters/endpoints: Tolerability and safety represents the main endpoints of this trial. Tolerability will be assessed during the execution of TFP-LITT. Patients will be provided with a pain analog scale and pain scores will be recorded before initiation of the procedure and during several milestones of the procedure. A final overall pain assessment will be recorded as well. Safety will be assessed during the 7-day, 30-day and 90-day clinic visits. Adverse events (AEs) will be monitored and reported using the CTCAE scale, as perioperative assessments will be conducted at each of these milestones. A grade 3 or worse AEs based on the CTCAE v5.0 within 90 days post procedure will be considered severe. Secondary outcomes will include cancer control, urinary and sexual functional outcomes. Cancer control will be measured with MRI at several milestones, serum PSA changes during the year and the definitive measure will be a Transperineal MR/US Fusion Biopsy at one year of follow up. Urinary and Sexual functional outcomes will be determined by evaluating changes in the validated questionnaires. Ejaculation will be monitored by direct questions.

The investigators aim to streamline the follow up focusing on safety according to standard of care. Patients will be instructed to contact us if they perceive any AEs. The principal investigator will oversee each patient for any AEs. Patients will be followed up in the clinic 7 days post procedure for catheter removal and AEs assessments. They will be contacted 30 days after the procedure and an AEs questionnaire will be administered as well. AEs, IPSS and SHIM assessments will be done at the 6 weeks and 3-month visits. IPSS and SHIM assessments will be done at the 6-month, 9-months and 12-months visits. Flow and volumetric studies will be conducted 3 months and 12 months from procedure date. From an oncological perspective, patients will have serum markers evaluations - PSA, Testosterone Creatinine and GFR measurements prior to a multiparametric MRI and subsequently before each MRI at months 1, 3 and 12 after TPF-LITT procedure. Critically, the Focalyx® Fusion device will be used to assess the delta changes for each lesion and overall change in prostate configuration after each MRI performed. This will allow further understanding of the speed of tissue retraction, remodeling, and spatial orientation of the treated areas for each patient. Finally at 12 months, a MR/US Transperineal fusion biopsy will be performed to assess the ablated tissue cancer sterility.

In Conclusion, TRANBERG® TPF-LITT will expose patients to potential intervention risks. However, it is our estimation and bias these potential risks will be favorable or equal to those observed with compared available standard minimal invasive treatment approaches such as active surveillance. The risks usually associated with transrectal procedures is eliminated as all treatments will performed via a transperineal access. The burden is in our opinion favorable and acceptable.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

20

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

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

50 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Willing and able to sign informed consent
  • Subject is able and willing to complete all procedure and follow-up visits indicated in the protocol
  • Absence of urinary retention
  • Prostate volume: ≥ 18 and ≤ 100 cc, measured by transrectal ultrasound
  • Serum creatinine levels <2 ng/dl and GFR > 45
  • Serum PSA levels < 20 ng/ml
  • Multiparametric prostate MRI with piRADS scores 3-5
  • Prostate volume: ≥ 18 and ≤ 100 cc, measured by MRI
  • Presence of Intermediate risk prostate cancer with a volume that is less than 1/3 of the gland volume by MRI evaluation

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Post-void residual (PVR): > 250 mL or > 50% of voided volume
  • Previous prostate cancer intervention (Radiation therapy, brachytherapy, prostate cryoablation
  • Major neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson, Multiple sclerosis, ALS, spinal cord injury
  • Evidence of neurogenic bladder determined by urodynamics studies
  • Presence of Indwelling Foley catheter or on active regime of clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) in the prior 30 days
  • Active urinary tract infection determined by urinary cultures
  • SHIM score <14
  • IPSS score >23
  • Acute prostatitis
  • Macroscopic hematuria without a known contributing factor
  • History of colorectal carcinoma with anterior perineal resection of rectum
  • History of pelvic radiation therapy or radical pelvic surgery
  • History of bladder neck contracture and/or urethral strictures within the 5 years prior to the informed consent date
  • Bladder stones
  • Medical contraindication for undergoing TPFLA surgery (eg, infection, coagulopathy, significant cardiac or other medical risk factors for surgery)
  • Diagnosed or suspected bleeding or coagulopathic disorder such as hemophilia, ITP, TTP
  • Medical contraindication to being subjected to local anesthesia

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: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: TPF-LITT ARM
partial gland ablation of the prostate using laser device and imaging fusion
A perineal local anesthesia block is performed with patient on lithotomy. The ultrasound probe is advanced, secured to digital stepper. The live ultrasound image feed is visible on the FOCALYX® Fusion device. Image co-registration (MR/US) will be performed. The FOCALYX® Fusion device shows outline of the prostate on the MRI and the target area(s) in real-time. The urologist advances laser fiber introducer, temperature probes to indicated coordinates. Target treatment - applying TRANBERG® laser energy over the treatment area and controlling delivery with a pedal. Treatment is monitored using FOCALYX® Fusion device in real-time. One laser fiber will be used and a single or multiple applications may be required. The fiber will be relocated to other targets if present. Patient will be dismissed to the MRI center where a multiparametric MRI will be conducted. After this study is completed, the patient will be discharged home with instructions and contact information.
Other Names:
  • Fusion Imaging Laser induced thermal therapy for prostate partial gland ablation.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events [Safety and Tolerability] of TRANBERG® TPF-LITT performed in the office setting under local anesthesia.
Time Frame: 90 days

Tolerability will be assessed during the execution of TFP-LITT at several phases of the treatment. An analog pain scale will be provided to the patient, whom will be asked to describe any pain scores at each of the following treatment successions:

  1. superficial perineal block,
  2. foley advancement,
  3. deep perineal block,
  4. fusion co-registration,
  5. before and after each ablation, 6-Once the patient has recovered, he will be asked for an overall pain assessment.

Safety will be evaluated by assessments of the 7-day, 30-day and 90-day AEs reported using the CTCAE scale, as perioperative assessments will be conducted at each of these milestones. A grade 3 or worse AEs based on the CTCAE v5.0 within 90 days post procedure will be considered severe. Any registered AEs will be labelled as follows:

  1. Not related
  2. Possible
  3. Probable
  4. Causal relationship
90 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Average Ablated area volume (in cc) measured by MRI immediately following the procedure
Time Frame: 24-72 hours after procedure
patients will undergo a multiparametric MRI immediately after the procedure and the ablated areas will be contoured and the dimensions on cubic centimeters will be recorded as ablation area
24-72 hours after procedure
Average Ablated area volume (in cc) measured by MRI 1-month following the procedure
Time Frame: 30 days
patients will undergo a multiparametric MRI 30 days (1-month) after the procedure and the ablated areas will be contoured and the dimensions on cubic centimeters will be recorded as ablation area
30 days
Average Ablated area volume (in cc) measured by MRI 3-month following the procedure
Time Frame: 90 days
patients will undergo a multiparametric MRI 90 days (3-month) after the procedure and the ablated areas will be contoured and the dimensions on cubic centimeters will be recorded as ablation area
90 days
Average Ablated area volume (in cc) measured by MRI 1-year following the procedure
Time Frame: 1 year
patients will undergo a multiparametric MRI 1-year after the procedure and the ablated areas will be contoured and the dimensions on cubic centimeters will be recorded as ablation area
1 year
Number of patients with a 75% decrease in Serum PSA levels (ng/ml) after procedure measured at fixed intervals
Time Frame: 1 year
The PSA will be obtained as well at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12-months post procedure.
1 year
Number of patients with presence of cancer cells in treated -ablated- area
Time Frame: 1 year
pathological assessment of samples obtained trough a MR/US Transperineal Fusion biopsy of the prostate treated area
1 year
Number of patients with a 50% increase in qMAX measured in cc/second on flow studies
Time Frame: 12 Months
Uroflowmetry in cc/s will be performed on patients at 3 and 12 months after the procedure. Assessment of maximal flow rate -qmax (cc/seconds) will be obtained
12 Months
Number of patients with a 7 point drop in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS)
Time Frame: 12 Months
Patients will be asked to answer the validated questionnaire - international prostate symptom scores (IPSS) - at 1,3 ,6 ,9 and 12 months following the procedure The IPSS scores range from 1 to 35
12 Months
Number of patients with a 5 point drop in the sexual health inventory for men (SHIM) scores
Time Frame: 12 Months
Patients will be asked to answer the validated questionnaire - sexual health inventory for men (SHIM) - at 1,3 ,6 ,9 and 12 months following the procedure The SHIM scores range from 1 to 25
12 Months
Number of men with absent ejaculation
Time Frame: 12 Months
Assessed by a direct yes or no answer to the question at 1,3 ,6 ,9 and 12 months following the procedure
12 Months

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: FERNANDO J BIANCO, MD, Urological Research Network
  • Study Director: Isabel H Lopez, BS., MBA, Urological Research Network

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)

March 16, 2022

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

January 27, 2023

Study Completion (Anticipated)

January 30, 2033

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 19, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 24, 2023

First Posted (Estimate)

January 26, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

January 26, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 24, 2023

Last Verified

January 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

Yes

IPD Plan Description

De-Identified datasets may be shared for Meta-Analysis purposes or Matched cohort analysis

IPD Sharing Time Frame

3 years

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

formal request, institutional agreements

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • Clinical Study Report (CSR)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

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.

Clinical Trials on MRI

Clinical Trials on TRANBERG® Transperineal Fusion Laser--Induced Thermal Therapy of Prostate Cancer (TPF-LITT)

3
Subscribe