GluePAE
Research type
Research Study
Full title
GluePAE: Microsphere versus glue prostate artery embolisation for the treatment of benign prostate enlargement
IRAS ID
335518
Contact name
Clare Bent
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 3 months, 1 days
Research summary
This study will compare the safety and efficacy of two methods of treating benign prostate enlargement (BPE) using prostate artery embolization (PAE), a minimally invasive treatment. PAE helps by blocking the blood flow to the enlarged prostate to shrink it and relieve symptoms like frequent urination or weak flow.
Typically, PAE involves injecting small particles called microspheres into the blood vessels feeding the prostate in order to block them so that the restricted blood flow shrinks the prostate. However, this approach can lead to a recurrence of symptoms for some patients, as the vessels can reopen over time. This study will investigate whether using glue embolic material (glue PAE) provides better long-term results than the standard microsphere embolic material (microsphere PAE) by a more permanent occlusion of the blood vessels. Due to rapid injection of glue during Glue PAE, it can be completed faster than microsphere PAE, potentially reducing radiation exposure for both the patient and the medical team.
The study will recruit 300 participants diagnosed with BPE, who will be randomly assigned to receive either the standard microsphere PAE or the modified technique, glue PAE. The primary aim is to determine whether glue PAE is as effective (i.e., not inferior) as the standard method at reducing common BPE-related symptoms over a 6-month period. The study will also collect long-term follow up data, including the recurrence of symptoms, imaging of the prostate, the need for further treatment, and will compare how safe the two variations of the PAE procedure are.
This research aims to evaluate whether glue PAE offers a more efficient and durable treatment option for men with BPE than microsphere PAE.
REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/SC/0012
Date of REC Opinion
11 Feb 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion