A Pan-Canadian, Investigator Initiated Clinical Trial With Focal IRE Directed to Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer (WIRED)

A Pan-Canadian, Investigator Initiated Clinical Trial With Focal IRE Directed to Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer: The WIRED Study

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the safety and efficacy of Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) using NanoKnife technology in patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer. This patient population was chosen because they would otherwise be treated with conventional therapies with high side effects. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Is the NanoKnife system is effective at damaging prostate tumour cells, and killing the cancer?
2. Are there any safety concerns with the procedure, or major side effects caused by the treatment?

Participants will undergo IRE treatment with the NanoKnife system, and then complete follow-up appointments for 12-months after the procedure.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Prostate Cancer
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Irreversible Electroporation (NanoKnife)

Detailed Description

Study Population This study is being conducted with intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients (Gleason score 7). This patient population was chosen because they would otherwise be treated with conventional therapies (RP or RT) which are often associated with significant side effects.

Study Design This study is designed to be a prospective, non-randomized study in 100 subjects treated at up to 5 clinical sites in Canada.

Prospective study subjects who sign a written informed consent will be enrolled in the study. Study eligibility will be confirmed at the Screening visit. Transperineal or transrectal prostate biopsy must have been performed no more than 180 days prior to the time of consent. mpMRI must have been within 360 days prior to treatment. If they continue to meet enrollment criteria, they will be scheduled for treatment and after undergoing standard bowel preparation, the NanoKnife System procedure will be carried out under general anesthesia and utilizing transrectal ultrasound (US) guidance.

Subjects will undergo treatment with the NanoKnife System as well as follow-up visits at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-procedure. Transrectal US and transperineal or transrectal biopsy will be completed at the 12-month follow up visit. Post-treatment imaging will be completed using mpMRI scan at 9-12 months post-procedure.

Study Agent/ Intervention/ Procedure The intervention being studied is Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) using NanoKnife technology. This technology uses high voltage current via probes placed around the prostate tumour via the perineum. The electricity damages the cell membranes rendering the cells dead. Hypothesized benefits of IRE over other focal therapy options include the ability to treat large or small lesions. Also, because the technology spares vessels, it can be used to treat prostate areas adjacent to sensitive structures (ie. prostate apex near the sphincter and lateral peripheral zone near the neurovascular bundle). Finally, treatments take approximately 1-1.5 hours, thus the technology could be used to treat several patients per day.

Primary Objectives

1. To determine the NanoKnife System's ablation effectiveness and durability by measuring the negative in-field biopsy rate at 12 months.
2. To determine the NanoKnife System's procedural and post-procedural safety profile by evaluating adverse event incidence, type, and severity through 12 months.

Secondary Objectives

1. To evaluate whether clinically significant prostate cancer will develop outside the ablation zone in men selected for focal IRE therapy as determined by positive prostate biopsy outside the ablation zone 12 months post treatment.
2. To evaluate urinary and erectile function after NanoKnife System treatment using validated subject questionnaires (UCLA-EPIC, IPSS, IPSS-QOL, IIEF-15).
3. To determine post-NanoKnife System treatment prostate-specific antigen (PSA) kinetics, including time to PSA nadir and post-nadir PSA stability.
4. To determine the effectiveness of therapy by assessing the need for secondary or salvage treatment following therapy.
5. To determine health-related quality of life (HRQoL) levels after treatment with the NanoKnife System using a validated subject questionnaire (EQ-5D).

Exploratory Objective

1. To evaluate longer term effectiveness of focal IRE and possible delayed adverse events through 5-years.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 100
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Ontario
    • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 2C4
      • Recruiting
      • Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
      • Contact: Nathan Perlis, MD; Phone Number: 437-533-0228; Email: nathan.perlis@uhn.ca

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Is greater than 50 years of age
2. Has at least a 10-year life expectancy
3. Has histologically confirmed organ-confined prostate cancer, clinical stage ≤ T2c
4. Has a PSA ≤ 15 ng/mL or PSA density < 0.15 ng/mL2 if PSA is > 15 ng/mL
5. Has Gleason score 3+4 or 4+3
6. Has no evidence of extraprostatic extension by mpMRI
7. Has no evidence of seminal vesicle invasion by mpMRI
8. Physician is able to visualize prostate gland adequately on transrectal ultrasound imaging during qualifying biopsy
9. Has a transperineal or transrectal targeted prostate biopsy of MRI-visible lesions, plus 10-14 core systematic biopsy confirming Gleason = 7 in MRI target and absence of Gleason ≥ 7 outside target
10. A visible lesion on mpMRI that is accessible to Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) treatment [Note: prostate cancer detected via systematic standard biopsy outside of the adjacent sextant location of the MRI visible lesion will meet entry criterion provided the positive core is Gleason 6; has fewer than 3 prostate biopsy fragments/cores positive]
11. Willing and able to sign a written informed consent form.
12. Understands and accepts the obligation and is logistically able to present for all scheduled follow-up visits

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Has known hypersensitivity to pancuronium bromide, atricurium or cisatricurium
2. Is unfit for anesthesia or has a contraindication for agents listed for paralysis
3. Has an active urinary tract infection (UTI)
4. Has a history of bladder neck contracture
5. Is interested in future fertility
6. Has a history (within 3 years) of inflammatory bowel disease
7. Has a concurrent major debilitating illness
8. Had active treatment for a malignancy within 3 years, including malignant melanoma, except for prostate cancer or other types of skin cancer (Note: subjects with untreated active concomitant cancers are excluded, only subjects deemed to be in remission by their cancer care provider for at least three years are eligible)
9. Has any active implanted electronic device (e.g., pacemaker)
10. Is unable or unwilling to catheterize

11. Has had any prior or current prostate cancer therapy, including:

    1. Biologic therapy for prostate cancer
    2. Chemotherapy for prostate cancer
    3. Hormonal therapy for prostate cancer within three months of procedure
    4. Radiotherapy for prostate cancer
    5. Surgery for prostate cancer
12. Has had prior prostate stricture surgery, urethral stent or prostatic implants
13. Has had prior major rectal surgery (except hemorrhoids)
14. Is unfit for pelvic MRI scanning (e.g., severe claustrophobia, permanent cardiac pacemaker, metallic implants that are likely to contribute significant image artifacts, allergy or contraindication to gadolinium (to enhance MRI)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: IRE Treatment Arm; All patients enrolled in this trial will receive IRE treatment with the NanoKnife System.

Device: Irreversible Electroporation (NanoKnife); Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) using NanoKnife technology uses high voltage current pulses via probes placed around the prostate tumour via the perineum. The electricity damages the cell membranes rendering the cells dead. Hypothesized benefits of IRE over other focal therapy options include the ability to treat large or small lesions. Also, because the technology spares vessels, it can be used to treat prostate areas adjacent to sensitive structures (ie prostate apex near the sphincter and lateral peripheral zone near the neurovascular bundle). Finally, treatments take approximately 1-1.5 hours, thus the technology could be used to treat several patients per day.; Other Names: NanoKnife System

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Rate of negative in-field biopsy at 12 months	To determine the NanoKnife System's ablation effectiveness by measuring the negative in-field biopsy rate at 12 months	1 year
Incidence of adverse events by type and CTCAE v5.0 severity through 12 months	To determine the NanoKnife System's procedural and post-procedural safety profile by evaluation adverse event incidence, type, and severity through 12 months	1 year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Evaluation of clinically significant prostate cancer rate of development outside the ablation zone	To evaluate whether clinically significant prostate cancer will develop outside the ablation zone in men selected for focal IRE therapy as determined by positive prostate biopsy outside the ablation zone 12 months post treatment	1 year
Assessment of urinary function after NanoKnife System treatment by comparison of pre- and post-operative UCLA Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite	Assessment of urinary function by comparison of pre- and post-operative UCLA Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (UCLA-EPIC) Urinary Domain and International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS) and IPSS Quality of Life2 (IPSS-QoL) scores.	1 year
Assessment of erectile function after NanoKnife System treatment by comparison of pre- and post-operative IIEF-15 potency scores	Assessment of erectile function by comparison of pre- and post-operative 15-Item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15) potency scores.	1 year
Effectiveness of therapy by measurement of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) kinetics	To determine post-NanoKnife System treatment prostate-specific antigen (PSA) kinetics, including time to PSA nadir and post-nadir PSA stability	1 year
Assessment of need for secondary or adjuvant treatment	To determine the effectiveness of therapy by collecting data on the number of patients who need secondary or adjuvant treatment within 12-months post-procedure	1 year
Evaluation of subject reported pre- and post-operative Quality of Life	To determine health-related quality of life (HRQoL) levels after treatment with the NanoKnife System using a validated subject questionnaire (EQ-5D)	1 year

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Evaluation of longer term effectiveness of focal IRE	To examine the rate of progression and re-intervention collected through standard of care follow-up for five years	5 years
Collection of data on possible delayed adverse events	To evaluate any delayed adverse events collected through standard of care for five years by type and CTCAE v5.0 severity	5 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Health Network, Toronto

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 16, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2033

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 29, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 10, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): June 11, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 11, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 9, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Genital Diseases; Genital Neoplasms, Male; Urogenital Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Genital Diseases, Male; Prostatic Diseases; Male Urogenital Diseases; Prostatic Neoplasms; Investigative Techniques; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Cytological Techniques; Electrochemical Techniques; Electroporation
• Other Study ID Numbers: 23-5926

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