Acetate PET to Identify prostate Tumours and Differentiate BPH
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The value of 11C-acetate PET-CT in identifying prostate cancer and differentiating tumour from benign prostatic hypertrophy
IRAS ID
170510
Contact name
Tristan Barrett
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and The University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
We aim to investigate whether this imaging test, 11C-acetate PET-CT, can differentiate prostate cancer from benign-hypertrophy of the prostate gland (BPH).
BPH is a condition that commonly affects men in older age leading to increased urinary frequency and urgency. There is often a similarity in clinical presentation of patients with this condition and that of prostate cancer. Although we have some good imaging tests to detect prostate cancer, the imaging findings often overlap with BPH. Previous studies have shown promise for the use of 11C-acetate for local detection of prostate cancer. However, despite increased uptake in prostate tumours compared to normal prostate, there was significant overlap with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), resulting in no overall benefit of the technique compared to mp-MRI. We hypothesise that delayed imaging with this technique in patients is feasible and will enable improved tumour-to-background detection of tumour and differentiation BPH due to the clearing of tracer from the background (within blood vessels).
Eligible patients will be identified at the specialist multidisciplinary uro-oncology meeting and subsequently approached for written informed consent. The imaging protocol will include a research 11C-acetate-PET-CT. Following injection of the radio-tracer into a peripheral vein, a low dose CT will be performed for attenuation correction and anatomical localisation, and dynamic PET imaging will continue for 90 minutes. The images will subsequently be interpreted by two experienced radiologists.
Depending on the results, we may be able to non-invasively differentiate benign disease from prostate cancer, and potentially remove the need for unnecessary prostate biopsies and surgery.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/EE/0213
Date of REC Opinion
31 Jul 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion