IP14-FOCUS
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Imperial Prostate 14 – FOcal therapy using Contrast-enhanced UltraSound
IRAS ID
339138
Contact name
Taimur Shah
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Focal therapy is an increasingly popular treatment for prostate cancer. However, in some patients after treatment the cancer can return later on. Further treatment may then be needed, which has a risk of causing worse urinary and sexual function.
Our research will test if a scan called contrast-enhanced ultrasound can improve this situation. This scan is performed immediately before and after the surgeon has performed focal therapy whilst the patient is still asleep under anaesthesia. It involves placing an ultrasound probe into the back passage to visualise the prostate. Meanwhile the patient is injected with a dye that will make it easier to see if there is any cancer remaining. If the scan shows there is cancer remaining, the surgeon can immediately perform further treatment to that area.
Using this scan could reduce the chances of cancer returning and reduce the chances of needing further treatment. However, very little research has been carried out looking at this scan, so we do not know if it works.
We want to run a preliminary study at our hospital where we use this scan during focal therapy. We will ask up to 118 patients who are having focal therapy to take part. After treatment, this study will follow patients up for approximately 1 year after treatment. Patients will be asked to have regular PSA blood tests, then an MRI and prostate needle biopsy 1 year after treatment to see if there is any cancer remaining. This is the standard care pathway for all patients after focal therapy, whether in the trial or not. We will also ask patients to complete questionnaires so we can monitor their quality of life and if they have experienced any side effects. When the trial ends, the patients will return to the normal care pathway after treatment.
REC name
North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/NW/0270
Date of REC Opinion
16 Sep 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion