The overarching strategy of the STHLM3-MR/Fusion projects are to study an improved diagnostic pipeline including an improved blood-based test for identification of men with increased risk of prostate cancer and use of MRI to select men for diagnostic workup with targeted prostate biopsies. The aim is to increase the specificity in early detection of prostate cancer without decreasing the sensitivity of aggressive prostate cancers.
The primary endpoints are the number of performed biopsies, the number of performed MRI and the number of detected high-risk prostate cancers. Secondary endpoints include the number of low risk prostate cancers diagnosed and the proportion of patients with up-or downgraded disease after assessment of prostatectomy specimen. Additional aims include to assess the health economic consequences and development of automated image-analysis.
The STHLM3-MR project is performed in two separate phases, analyzed separately. STHLM3-MR Phase 1 closed inclusion 2017-06-01. All participants underwent target and systematic biopsies together with STHLM3 test analysis. The study is constitutes a current practice cohort and levels of the STHLM3 test were not used for selecting participants.
STHLM3-MR Phase 2 is a study comparing traditional prostate cancer detection using PSA and systematic biopsies with the improved pipeline for prostate cancer detection using the STHLM3 test and targeted biopsies in a screening context. STHLM3-MR Phase 2 reported outcomes from the first screening round 2023. Repeated screening with individualised screening intervals will be offered to participants without prostate cancer detected.
