Rationale The incidence of prostate cancer (PCa) has increased over the years. To diagnose PCa, histopathological confirmation is required. Different diagnostic pathways are currently available. Systematic biopsies have long been the cornerstone in the diagnostic work-up of men suspected of prostate cancer. However, systematic biopsies can lead to under-diagnosis of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa), and each biopsy is associated with the risk of infection and other side effects.
In the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pathway, targeted biopsies are only performed when suspicious lesions are detected on MRI. The MRI pathway purposely detects fewer clinically insignificant prostate cancers (ciPCa), but has an increased sensitivity for csPCa and improved localization accuracy of suspicious regions. The MRI-based strategy is now recommended as the first-line investigation. However, reported sensitivities and specificities for MRI vary widely between studies, which can be attributed to differences in MRI equipment, study design, reference standard quality, and inter-observer variability. Moreover, MRI has limited availability and is a time-consuming and expensive imaging modality.
Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), which is widely available, more cost-effective, and familiar to urologists, may offer a valid alternative. In an ultrasound-based diagnostic pathway, 3D contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) combined with contrast ultrasound dispersion imaging (CUDI) focuses on detecting angiogenetic changes in the microvascular architecture to localize lesions suspicious for PCa, followed by targeted biopsies for histological confirmation.
PCaVision is a software package designed to support the diagnosis of csPCa by integrating 3D B-mode, 3D Shear Wave Elastography (SWE), and 4D CEUS scans. The PCaVision algorithm was trained on a cohort of 252 patients using prostatectomy pathology as the reference standard, and 83 "negative" patients (no suspicious MRI lesions or positive prostate biopsies). Internal validation showed a sensitivity and specificity of 0.82 and 0.82, respectively. These results led to a first prospective clinical investigation in the Netherlands to demonstrate non-inferiority compared to the MRI-based pathway (NCT06281769). That initial prospective trial aimed to compare the two diagnostic pathways in biopsy-naïve patients under tightly controlled conditions (e.g., 3T MRI, transperineal biopsies, and cognitive or fusion targeting using MIM software). These conditions, however, are not generalizable across Europe, where 1.5T and 3T MRI are used interchangeably, both transperineal and transrectal biopsy approaches are employed, and various fusion systems are in use. Additionally, the previous study excluded patients in active surveillance (AS) and those with prior negative biopsies, who represent a substantial portion of the demand for PCa diagnosis and biopsy guidance.
The objective of the European head-to-head trial described in this protocol is to compare the diagnostic accuracy of two different imaging pathways for detecting csPCa in a broader, more generalizable European setting: (1) the PCaVision-targeted biopsy pathway and (2) the MRI-targeted biopsy pathway. The trial aims to demonstrate the non-inferiority of the PCaVision pathway compared to the MRI pathway in two cohorts: (1) biopsy-naïve and prior negative patients and (2) patients undergoing active surveillance. A fully paired design will be used. The updated PCaVision version 1.1 will be employed in this study, incorporating enhancements to reduce unusable scans and improve diagnostic accuracy and user experience.
Objective
The primary objective is to demonstrate the non-inferiority of csPCa detection in targeted biopsies guided by PCaVision imaging (PCaVision pathway) compared to targeted biopsies guided by MRI (MRI pathway) in two distinct patient cohorts:
1. Biopsy-naïve and prior-negative patients
2. Patients under active surveillance (AS) Clinically significant PCa (csPCa) is defined as International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) Grade Group (GG) ≥ 2 in any biopsy core obtained from a lesion.
The secondary objectives include:
1. Comparing the proportion of participants in whom targeted biopsies could be safely omitted in the PCaVision pathway versus the MRI pathway. Safe omission is defined as no lesions identified for targeted biopsy by PCaVision and no csPCa detected by MRI-targeted or systematic biopsies.
2. Conducting the same diagnostic comparison across different definitions of csPCa, including:
* ISUP ≥ 3
* ISUP ≥ 2 with cribriform growth and/or intraductal carcinoma (CR/IDC)
* ISUP = 1
3. Comparing the number of participants for whom PCaVision or MRI produced insufficient image quality.
4. Calculating csPCa detection rates across specific subgroups:
* Men treated with 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARI) for ≥3 months
* Men with a history of prostate surgery for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)
* Biopsy-naïve and prior-negative patients excluding those under 5-ARI treatment or with prostate surgery history
* AS patients excluding those under 5-ARI treatment or with prostate surgery history Study Design This is a prospective, diagnostic accuracy study using a fully paired design. Study Population The study will include men aged 18 years or older who are scheduled for prostate MRI due to either a suspicious digital rectal examination (DRE) and/or elevated PSA, or as part of routine active surveillance follow-up.
Intervention
All participants will undergo both:
* 3D multiparametric ultrasound (mpUS) imaging using PCaVision
* Multiparametric MRI Suspicious lesions will be identified independently on each modality. If lesions are detected, targeted biopsies will be performed based on the findings.
Biopsy procedure:
* If one lesion is detected: 3 targeted biopsies
* If two lesions: 3 biopsies per lesion (6 total)
* If three or more lesions: 2 selected lesions will be biopsied (3 biopsies per lesion)
Selection criteria:
* For MRI: PI-RADS score and lesion size
* For PCaVision: predicted csPCa probability and lesion size A maximum of 6 biopsies per imaging technique will be performed (maximum 12 study-driven biopsies per participant). This does not include systematic biopsies, which may be conducted according to the standard of care at the participating center. All biopsies will be conducted during a single visit.
Main Study Endpoint The primary endpoint is the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (GG ≥ 2) based on histopathological examination of targeted biopsies. The study aims to demonstrate that detection using the PCaVision pathway is not inferior to detection using the MRI pathway within a predefined non-inferiority margin of 5 percentage points for both patient cohorts.
Burden, Risks, and Benefits In most participating centers, current clinical care involves MRI-targeted and possibly systematic biopsies. These care practices will remain unchanged in the study. Systematic biopsies are not part of the formal head-to-head comparison between MRI and PCaVision.
Potential benefits to participants include detection of additional cancers that MRI may miss. Broader study results may help expand access to effective diagnostic imaging, especially in settings with limited MRI availability.
Additional targeted biopsies may be required based on PCaVision findings, which carry minor risks such as infection or bleeding. The use of ultrasound contrast agent may pose minimal and rare risks, typically transient and mild. Overall, the burden and risk associated with participation are considered low.
