Active Surveillance in Prostate Cancer, Imaging to Detect Radiographic Progression as an Endpoint (ASPIRE)

MRI Fusion prostate biopsy will transform Active Surveillance (AS) for men with low risk prostate cancer. Treatment for prostate cancer, usually surgical removal or radiation delivered to the whole prostate, is associated with significant morbidity including incontinence and impotence.

The goal of this and future research is to maximize the effectiveness of prostate imaging in order to minimize the morbidity of prostate biopsy and hence improve the quality of life of patients with prostate cancer. There are many applications to improved imaging of prostate cancer, but several the investigators are interested in include: improved risk stratification to limit unnecessary treatment while providing appropriate treatment to prevent progression; limiting the number of biopsies needed for diagnosis and/or decreasing the frequency of biopsies and hence decreasing biopsy-related morbidity; focal therapy for confirmed focal disease rather than treating the entire prostate in order to limit the significant morbidity associated with whole-gland treatment.

This is an investigator-initiated, multi-center, prospective observational phase II trial evaluating MRI to detect prostate cancer progression in patients with low risk prostate cancer on Active Surveillance. The two centers involved will be the Yale-New Haven Hospital Smilow Cancer Center (Yale) and the VA Connecticut Healthcare System (VACT). The Yale School of Medicine will serve as the central data-coordinating center for this study.