Improving MRI diagnosis of prostate cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Optimisation of MRI-based diagnosis of prostate cancer through analysis of biopsy tissue from the PROMIS trial
IRAS ID
292651
Contact name
Mark Emberton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
11/LO/0185, Original REC reference
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
False negative and false positive multiparametric MRI phenotypes in the prostate complicate the diagnosis of clinically significant cancer, leading to undetected significant disease and prompt thousands of unwarranted prostate biopsies every year. This significant problem largely persists due to an insufficient histopathological and molecular understanding of why some cancers are MRI-invisible while, on the other hand, benign but perturbed tissue can produce an MRI signal. Although correlations between image and tissue have been completed on surgical specimens, these are limited by a substantial selection bias and are not relevant in the early diagnostic context. However, biopsy tissue collected from MRI-characterised men is less limited by bias and ideal for addressing the problem.
The overarching aim of this project will be to delineate the histopathological and molecular features of MRI-invisible cancer and MRI-visible benign tissue in the prostate, using a subset of unique PROMIS study samples that are relatively free from selection and spectrum bias. This work will set new standards for MRI interpretation and optimise imaging-based prostate cancer diagnosis.
REC name
North East - York Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/NE/0139
Date of REC Opinion
21 Jul 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion