Neoadjuvant ADT with TULSA in the Treatment of Intermediate Risk Prostate Cancer (NeoADT-TULSA)

February 13, 2025 updated by: Turku University Hospital

Effect of Neoadjuvant Degarelix on MRI-guided Transurethral Ultrasound Ablation (TULSA) in Patients with Intermediate-risk Prostate Cancer: a Pilot Study

Clinical studies have shown that magnetic resonance imaging-guided transurethral ultrasound ablation (TULSA) of the prostate is safe and effective. In the TULSA procedure, prostate tissue is killed by heating with ultrasound. This clinical trial explores if adding drug therapy with Degarelix before TULSA has the potential to improve further the effectiveness of TULSA in the treatment of localized prostate cancer, especially for patients with more aggressive diseases.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been shown to reduce prostate and tumor size. In this study, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to investigate the effect of Degarelix ADT on the properties of prostate tissue that can affect the heating of the tissues in the TULSA procedure. The main goal is to find out if ADT can change the tissue structure in a way that improves the ability of the TULSA procedure to heat tissues and better kill the diseased tissue, reducing the chance of the disease reoccurring. ADT and the TULSA procedure can help patients with more aggressive diseases avoid the adverse effects associated with surgery or radiation therapy. Specific objectives are:

  1. To measure the change in prostate and tumor size, tissue structural changes, and the blood flow within the prostate after ADT.
  2. To measure the distribution of heating over the prostate after TULSA treatment.
  3. To evaluate complications and genitourinary function and quality of life with patient-reported outcome measures.
  4. To evaluate local cancer control and longer-term oncological outcomes after combination therapy of neoadjuvant ADT and TULSA treatment.

About 15 subjects will participate. Each will receive Degarelix for three months, followed by whole-prostate gland TULSA treatment, and be followed for five years. Throughout the study, subjects will receive MRI scans and complete questionnaires regarding functional status and quality of life to understand the side effects.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

15

Phase

  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

    • Southwest Finland
      • Turku, Southwest Finland, Finland, 20521
        • Turku University Hospital

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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male age ≥ 40 years and candidate for radical prostate cancer treatment
  • Estimated life expectancy > 8 years
  • At least one MRI-visible and biopsy-concordant tumor defined as Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System v2 (PI-RADS v2.1) ≥ 3
  • Biopsy-confirmed, intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer:
  • Clinical or radiological tumor stage ≤ T2c, N0, M0
  • ISUP GG 2 or 3
  • Biopsy obtained ≥ 6 weeks and ≤ 12 months before treatment
  • PSA ≤ 20 ng/ml
  • No prior definitive treatment of prostate cancer
  • Eligible for MRI
  • Eligible for general anesthesia (American Society of Anesthesiologists Class III or less)
  • Patients taking 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) are eligible if use is discontinued three months before and throughout the study period.
  • Informed consent: The patient must speak Finnish, English, or Swedish and must be able to understand the meaning of the study. The patient must be willing and able to sign the appropriate Ethics Committee (EC) approved informed consent documents in the presence of the designated staff.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Prior prostate cancer treatment with chemotherapy or hormonal therapy, including chemical or surgical castration, antiandrogen therapy, or androgen-receptor signaling inhibitors.
  • Relative or absolute contraindication to Degarelix
  • Severe, active cardiovascular comorbidity including unstable angina pectoris, congestive heart failure, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or myocardial infarction within the last six months.
  • Inability to undergo MRI due to claustrophobia or contraindications (cardiac pacemaker, intracranial clips, etc.)
  • Severe kidney failure as determined by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 30 ml/min per 1.73 m2
  • Prostate calcifications obstructing the planned ultrasound beam path in the line of sight of the MRI visible tumor
  • Prostate cysts at the prostate capsule within the planned ultrasound beam path in the line of sight of the MRI visible tumor
  • Evidence of extraprostatic disease based on imaging (MRI, bone scintigraphy, single-photon emission tomography, computed tomography, prostate-specific membrane antigen-positron emission tomography [PSMA-PET]) or histopathology
  • History of chronic inflammatory conditions (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease) affecting the rectum (also includes rectal fistula and anal/rectal stenosis)
  • Hip replacement surgery or other metal in the pelvic area
  • Known allergy or contraindication to gadolinium or gastro-intestinal anti-spasmodic drug glucagon
  • Concomitant treatment with medications contraindicated to Glucagen used as antispasmolytic agent during TULSA treatment (e.g., Feochromocytoma)
  • Any other conditions that might compromise patient safety, based on the clinical judgment of the responsible urologist
  • Another primary malignancy unless disease-free survival is > 8 years

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: 3-month neoadjuvant Degarelix followed by whole-gland MRI-guided transurethral ultrasound ablation
After three months of neoadjuvant ADT with Degarelix, the subject will undergo whole-prostate gland MRI-guided transurethral ultrasound ablation (TULSA) (TULSA-PRO, Profound Medical Inc., Toronto, Canada) treatment.
Degarelix is injected subcutaneously into the fatty tissue of the abdomen. A typical protocol consists of a starting dose of 240 mg with a maintenance dose of 80 mg administered every 28 days. In this study, one starting dose and two maintenance doses of Degarelix will be administered between baseline and TULSA treatment in accordance with the terms of Degarelix marketing authorizations.
Other Names:
  • Firmagon
MRI-guided transurethral ultrasound ablation (TULSA) (TULSA-PRO, Profound Medical Inc., Toronto, Canada) will be used to deliver whole-prostate gland treatment in accordance with the terms of TULSA marketing authorizations. The treating physicians will contour the entire prostate gland for a whole gland ablation.
Other Names:
  • TULSA-PRO

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in prostate volume after neoadjuvant ADT
Time Frame: Baseline and four, eight, and 12 weeks of ADT.
The prostate volume change will be determined by comparing the prostate volume measured on T2-weighted MRI at four, eight, and 12 weeks of ADT to that at baseline.
Baseline and four, eight, and 12 weeks of ADT.
Change in prostate tumor volume after neoadjuvant ADT
Time Frame: Baseline and four, eight, and 12 weeks of ADT.
The prostate tumor volume change will be determined by comparing the prostate tumor volume measured on T2-weighted MRI at four, eight, and 12 weeks of ADT to that at baseline.
Baseline and four, eight, and 12 weeks of ADT.
The frequency and severity of adverse events
Time Frame: Every follow-up visit until the first year of follow-up.
The frequency and severity of adverse events after neoadjuvant Degarelix and TULSA treatment will be determined by using the CTCAE v6.0 classification. Adverse events attributed to TULSA will also be graded using the Clavien Dindo classification for surgical complications.
Every follow-up visit until the first year of follow-up.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in prostate tumor-capsule contact length after neoadjuvant ADT
Time Frame: Baseline and four, eight, and 12 weeks of ADT.
The prostate tumor-capsule contact length change will be determined by comparing the prostate tumor-capsule contact length measured on T2-weighted MRI at four, eight, and 12 weeks of ADT to that at baseline.
Baseline and four, eight, and 12 weeks of ADT.
Change in prostate vascular perfusion after neoadjuvant ADT
Time Frame: Baseline and four, eight, and 12 weeks of ADT.
The change in prostate vascular perfusion will be determined by comparing average blood flow values in the prostate measured on dynamic contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MRI at four, eight, and 12 weeks of ADT to that at baseline.
Baseline and four, eight, and 12 weeks of ADT.
Change in prostate tumor vascular perfusion after neoadjuvant ADT
Time Frame: Baseline and four, eight, and 12 weeks of ADT.
The change in prostate tumor vascular perfusion will be determined by comparing average blood flow values in the prostate tumor measured on dynamic contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MRI at four, eight, and 12 weeks of ADT to that at baseline.
Baseline and four, eight, and 12 weeks of ADT.
Change in periprostatic, prostate and tumor tissue structures after neoadjuvant ADT
Time Frame: Baseline and four, eight, and 12 weeks of ADT.
The change in periprostatic, prostate and tumor tissue structures will be determined by comparing the radiomics features extracted from T2-weighted, T2 relaxation time mapping, and diffusion-weighted images at four, eight, and 12 weeks of ADT to that at baseline.
Baseline and four, eight, and 12 weeks of ADT.
Thermal coverage after whole-prostate gland TULSA
Time Frame: Immediately after the TULSA procedure.
Thermal coverage of the target volume achieved by whole-prostate gland TULSA will be determined by comparing physician-defined target boundaries to MRI measurements of temperature distributions, thermal dose distributions, and acute treatment-induced perfusion defect immediately post-treatment.
Immediately after the TULSA procedure.
Change in quality of life (QoL) and functional status outcomes after neoadjuvant ADT
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks of ADT.
The change in QoL and functional status outcomes will be determined by comparing the summary scores of urinary incontinence, urinary irritative/obstructive, bowel, sexual and hormonal domains of the Expanded Prostate Index Composite-26 (EPIC-26) questionnaire at 12 weeks of ADT to that at baseline. EPIC-26 contains 26 items with response options for each EPIC item forming a Likert Scale, and multi-item scale scores transformed linearly to a 0-100 scale, with higher scores representing better functional status/QoL.
Baseline and 12 weeks of ADT.
Change in lower urinary tract symptoms after neoadjuvant ADT
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks of ADT.
The change in lower urinary tract symptoms will be determined by comparing the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) at 12 weeks of ADT to that at baseline. The possible scores for the IPSS questionnaire range from 0 to 35, with higher scores representing worse symptoms.
Baseline and 12 weeks of ADT.
Change in erectile function after neoadjuvant ADT
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks of ADT.
The change in erectile function will be determined by comparing the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) score at 12 weeks of ADT to that at baseline. The possible scores for the IIEF-5 range from 5 to 25, with higher scores representing a better erectile function.
Baseline and 12 weeks of ADT.
Change in quality of life (QoL) and functional status outcomes after neoadjuvant ADT and whole-prostate gland TULSA
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks of ADT, and three, six, 12, 36 and 60 months after the TULSA procedure.
The change in QoL and functional status outcomes will be determined by comparing the summary scores of urinary incontinence, urinary irritative/obstructive, bowel, sexual and hormonal domains of the Expanded Prostate Index Composite (EPIC-26) questionnaire at three, six, 12, 36 and 60 months post-TULSA to that at baseline and TULSA procedure. EPIC-26 contains 26 items with response options for each EPIC item forming a Likert Scale, and multi-item scale scores transformed linearly to a 0-100 scale, with higher scores representing better functional status/QoL.
Baseline and 12 weeks of ADT, and three, six, 12, 36 and 60 months after the TULSA procedure.
Change in lower urinary tract symptoms after neoadjuvant ADT and whole-prostate gland TULSA
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks of ADT, and three, six, 12, 36 and 60 months after the TULSA procedure.
The change in lower urinary tract symptoms will be determined by comparing the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) at three, six, 12, 36 and 60 months post-TULSA to that at baseline and TULSA procedure. The possible scores for the IPSS questionnaire range from 0 to 35, with higher scores representing worse symptoms.
Baseline and 12 weeks of ADT, and three, six, 12, 36 and 60 months after the TULSA procedure.
Change in erectile function after neoadjuvant ADT and whole-prostate gland TULSA
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks of ADT, and three, six, 12, 36 and 60 months after the TULSA procedure.
The change in erectile function will be determined by comparing the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) score at three, six, 12, 36 and 60 months post-TULSA to that at baseline and TULSA procedure. The possible scores for the IIEF-5 range from 5 to 25, with higher scores representing a better erectile function.
Baseline and 12 weeks of ADT, and three, six, 12, 36 and 60 months after the TULSA procedure.
The frequency and severity of adverse events during extended follow-up
Time Frame: Every follow-up visit until the five years of follow-up.
The frequency and severity of adverse events after neoadjuvant Degarelix and TULSA treatment will be determined using the CTCAE v6.0 classification. Adverse events attributed to TULSA will also be graded using the Clavien Dindo classification for surgical complications.
Every follow-up visit until the five years of follow-up.
Salvage therapy-free survival
Time Frame: Every post-TULSA follow-up visit until the five years of follow-up.
Salvage therapy-free survival will be defined as freedom from radical salvage treatments for prostate cancer including radical prostatectomy, radiotherapy, or ablation, and reported as the proportion of subjects who have not reached those events.
Every post-TULSA follow-up visit until the five years of follow-up.
Systemic therapy-free survival
Time Frame: Every post-TULSA follow-up visit until the five years of follow-up.
Systemic therapy-free survival will be defined as freedom from additional systemic therapy including but not limited to additional ADT or chemotherapy for the treatment of prostate cancer, and reported as the proportion of subjects who have not reached those events.
Every post-TULSA follow-up visit until the five years of follow-up.
Failure-free survival
Time Frame: Every post-TULSA follow-up visit until the five years of follow-up.
Failure-free survival will be defined as freedom from salvage treatment, systemic treatment, metastases, or death from prostate cancer, and reported as the proportion of subjects who have not reached those events.
Every post-TULSA follow-up visit until the five years of follow-up.
Metastasis-free, prostate cancer-specific, and overall survival
Time Frame: One, three and five years after the TULSA procedure.
Metastasis-free, prostate cancer-specific and overall survivals will be assessed one, three, and five years after TULSA and reported as the proportion of subjects who have not reached those endpoints.
One, three and five years after the TULSA procedure.
Biochemical failure-free survival
Time Frame: One, three, and five years after the TULSA procedure.
PSA at each timepoint, as well as PSA nadir, will be reported. The proportion of subjects with biochemical failure, defined as a PSA value more than 2.0 ng/ml above nadir, will be reported.
One, three, and five years after the TULSA procedure.
Freedom from biopsy-proven clinically-significant prostate cancer
Time Frame: Twelve months after the TULSA procedure
Histopathologic verification of treatment response to TULSA treatment will be confirmed at 12 months post-TULSA with targeted plus 10-12-core systematic biopsy. The proportion of subjects with a clinically-significant disease, defined as Gleason grade ≥ 3 + 4 and ISUP (International Society of Urological Pathology) grade group ≥ 2 prostate cancer, on biopsy, will be reported.
Twelve months after the TULSA procedure
Freedom from any biopsy-proven prostate cancer
Time Frame: Twelve months after the TULSA procedure
Histopathologic verification of treatment response to TULSA treatment will be confirmed at 12 months post-TULSA with targeted plus 10-12-core systematic biopsy. The number, location, grade, and percent of cancer involvement within each core will be collected. The proportion of subjects with any prostate cancer on biopsy, will be reported.
Twelve months after the TULSA procedure

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in prostate volume after whole-prostate gland TULSA
Time Frame: Three and twelve months after TULSA procedure
The prostate volume change will be determined by comparing the prostate volume measured on T2-weighted MRI at three, and 12 months after TULSA to that at TULSA procedure.
Three and twelve months after TULSA procedure
Change in maximum urinary flow rate after neoadjuvant ADT and whole-gland TULSA
Time Frame: Baseline, 12 weeks of ADT, and three, 12, 36 and 60 months after the TULSA procedure
The change in maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) (ml/s) will be determined by comparing Qmax values at 12 weeks of ADT and three, 12, 36, and 60 months post-TULSA to that at baseline and TULSA procedure.
Baseline, 12 weeks of ADT, and three, 12, 36 and 60 months after the TULSA procedure
Change in average urinary flow rate after neoadjuvant ADT and whole-gland TULSA
Time Frame: Baseline, 12 weeks of ADT, and three, 12, 36 and 60 months after the TULSA procedure
The change in average urinary flow rate (ml/s) will be determined by comparing average flow rate values at 12 weeks of ADT and three, 12, 36, and 60 months post-TULSA to that at baseline and TULSA procedure.
Baseline, 12 weeks of ADT, and three, 12, 36 and 60 months after the TULSA procedure
Change in post-void residual volume after neoadjuvant ADT and whole-gland TULSA
Time Frame: Baseline, 12 weeks of ADT, and three, 12, 36 and 60 months after the TULSA procedure
The change in post-void residual volume (PVR) (ml) will be determined by comparing PVR values at 12 weeks of ADT and three, 12, 36, and 60 months post-TULSA to that at baseline and TULSA procedure.
Baseline, 12 weeks of ADT, and three, 12, 36 and 60 months after the TULSA procedure
Change in voided volume after neoadjuvant ADT and whole-gland TULSA
Time Frame: Baseline, 12 weeks of ADT, and three, 12, 36 and 60 months after the TULSA procedure
The change in voided volume (ml) will be determined by comparing voided volume values at 12 weeks of ADT and three, 12, 36, and 60 months post-TULSA to that at baseline and TULSA procedure.
Baseline, 12 weeks of ADT, and three, 12, 36 and 60 months after the TULSA procedure
Freedom from any suspicious lesion on MRI
Time Frame: Three and twelve months after the TULSA procedure
3T prostate multiparametric MRI three and twelve months after TULSA treatment will be assessed for residual or recurrent disease according to the Prostate Imaging for Recurrence Reporting (PI-RR) system guidelines. The proportion of subjects with a suspicious lesion on MRI, defined as lesion ≥ PI-RR 3, will be reported.
Three and twelve months after the TULSA procedure

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Mikael HJ Anttinen, MD, PhD, Department of Urology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland

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 18, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

January 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

January 31, 2030

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 2, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 14, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

June 26, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 13, 2025

Last Verified

February 1, 2025

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

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 Prostate Cancer

Clinical Trials on Degarelix

Subscribe