A study looking at high definition MRI scan and ultrasound guided biopsy for diagnosing prostate cancer (MULTIPROS)

Please note - this trial is no longer recruiting patients. We hope to add results when they are available.

Cancer type:

Prostate cancer

Status:

Closed

Phase:

Other

This study is for men who are due to have tests to see if they have prostate cancer. 

More about this trial

Your doctor will send you for tests if they think you have prostate cancer. You usually have a sample of cells removed from your prostate to check for cancer. To do this, the doctor passes a fine needle along an ultrasound probe and into the prostate gland. This is a transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided biopsy

Sometimes, the biopsies can miss cancers or not show how serious they are. And they can show up slow growing cancers that don’t need treating because they will never become life threatening.

This study will look at a type of MRI scan called multi parametric (MP) MRI, which is a high definition MRI scan. The researchers want to do an MP MRI scan before a biopsy. They want to see if it will: 

  • help to diagnose prostate cancer 
  • tell the difference between serious and less serious cancers

Who can enter

The following bullet points list the entry conditions for this study. Talk to your doctor or the study team if you are unsure about any of these. They will be able to advise you. 

You may be able to join this study if you are going for tests at either Ninewells Hospital Dundee, the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in Aberdeen or the Royal Free Hospital London and all of the following apply.

  • Your PSA test result is less than 20ng/ml and your doctor has done a digital rectal examination (inserted a gloved finger into your back passage) and your prostate gland did not feel normal
  • You are aged between 40 to 75

You cannot join this study if any of these apply. You

  • Have had prostate cancer in the past
  • Have had an infection in your prostate gland called acute prostatitis
  • Have had a prostate biopsy
  • Are unable to have a prostate biopsy for any reason
  • Have had your prostate gland removed by a type of surgery called transurethral prostatectomy
  • Cannot have an MRI scan for any reason – this could be because you have metal clips or a pacemaker in your body, or you cannot cope with small spaces, or your kidneys do not work well enough to flush through the MRI contrast Open a glossary item, or you are allergic to the MRI contrast
  • Have any other condition that the study team think could stop you taking part

Trial design

 The researchers would like up to 600 men to take part in this study. 

You have an MP MRI scan as an outpatient at either Ninewells Hospital Dundee or Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. 

The next part of the study is randomised. You are put into 1 of 2 groups. 

  • One group has a routine TRUS biopsy
  • The other group has a TRUS biopsy and additional samples taken using the MP MRI images

If you have prostate cancer you might have your prostate gland removed (a prostatectomy). If this happens the researchers will compare the results of the examination of your prostate gland with those of the MRI scan images and your biopsies. This part of the study is now closed as the study team have enough information about this. 

Hospital visits

You have your MP MRI scan and biopsy at the hospital. You should have these as an outpatient and shouldn’t need to stay overnight. 

The MP MRI scan takes approximately 1 hour. Before the scan you have a small tube (a cannula) put into your arm. This is so you can have 1 or 2 drugs. One drug will relax the muscles of your bowel. This helps make the scan images clearer by stopping your bowel from moving.

The other drug is a contrast medium called Gadolinium. This helps to show up any areas in your prostate gland that could be cancer. 

Side effects

Very rarely the contrast injection for the MP MRI scan may cause an allergic reaction. These reactions are usually mild. Staff at the MRI unit will be able to treat your reaction if this happens to you.

Other side effects include

  • mild headache
  • feeling sick
  • burning sensation when you have the drug 
  • slight skin rash

If you are in the group having the TRUS biopsy and additional samples the procedure will take slightly longer. But you should not have any additional side effects. We have information about having a TRUS biopsy (needle biopsy).

Recruitment start:

Recruitment end:

How to join a clinical trial

Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.

Please note - unless we state otherwise in the summary, you need to talk to your doctor about joining a trial.

Chief Investigator

Professor Ghulam Nabi

Supported by

Chief Scientist Office
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
NHS Tayside
PCUK
Prostate Cancer UK
University of Dundee - Tayside Clinical Trials Unit 

If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses

Freephone 0808 800 4040

Last review date

CRUK internal database number:

12725

Please note - unless we state otherwise in the summary, you need to talk to your doctor about joining a trial.

Keith took part in a trial looking into hormone therapy

A picture of Keith

"Health wise I am feeling great. I am a big supporter of trials - it allows new treatments and drugs to be brought in.”

Last reviewed:

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