Evaluating the Role of Ultrasound in Prostate Cancer

Overview

Active surveillance (AS) is becoming an increasingly common treatment option for men who have been diagnosed with localised low-grade prostate cancer (PCa). Low-grade disease is commonly noted by clinicians to be clinically insignificant cancer but remains a psychological burden to many men in this cohort. There is consensus that regular review is required for men on AS so that early treatment can be undertaken if there is disease progression, and to support men living with a cancer diagnosis. Some AS protocols, including National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), advocate the use of MRI as a regular part of the monitoring pathway. Unfortunately, access to MRI for AS, within the current health care environment in the UK, is limited due to increasing demand for primary diagnostic examinations, particularly in the post pandemic recovery phase. Emerging technologies in ultrasound imaging may, however, add another diagnostic tool to monitor disease for patients on AS. This proof of concept study is to evaluate whether new multi-parametric ultrasound techniques can safely reduce the number of MRIs required for effective AS. Men being investigated for PCa will be invited to undergo an ultrasound examination of their prostate, via the rectum, in addition to the diagnostic MRI undertaken as part of normal care. The findings of the ultrasound will be directly compared with the MRI and any subsequent biopsy samples taken as part of routine care. Those who then progress onto AS will be invited to undergo regular rectal prostate ultrasound examinations. These will be compared with previous imaging for signs of change. This study will also evaluate the changing role of practitioners who will be using new technologies and making decisions about disease progression. The ability to implement new techniques will be assessed. All imaging will be undertaken at Castle Hill Hospital over a 24-month period from commencement of the study.

Research Plan 1.1 Purpose and design Across the UK prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. Developments in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the implementation of a targeted biopsy regime, have resulted in a considerable improvement in the detection of prostate cancer. 1.1.1 Clinical context: Prostate cancer can be present as an indolent low-grade cellular change to the tissue but with very little risk of this progressing to a metastatic life threatening disease. Despite the improved diagnostic capabilities, there remain a significant proportion of men in whom low-grade cancer is detected and consequent treatment options may present a higher risk to quality of life than the presence of the localised disease. Both active surveillance (AS) and watchful waiting (WW) involve proactively monitoring the patient for signs of disease progression rather than undertaking treatment immediately. The improvements in MRI imaging and reporting indicate that regular scans would add valuable information for patients under AS but capacity is significantly hindering this as an available application. 1.1.2 Technological improvements Emerging technologies in ultrasound imaging, which is less hindered by capacity issues within the UK and is utilised, to a degree, in current standard care, may add another diagnostic tool to monitor disease for patients on AS. A multi-parametric ultrasound assessment may provide the crucial diagnostic features that enables ultrasound imaging to be used to monitor disease. A crucial question remains as to whether the use of additional imaging and health care intervention could improve patient outcomes. 1.1.3 Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) Despite the publication of a defined framework for the development and evaluation of research, there remain substantial problems in the design and conduct of studies introducing complex interventions and their subsequent implementation. If a new technology provides good diagnostic results but is cumbersome and complex to use, it is unlikely to be implemented into routine healthcare practice. A recognised gap exists between developing new treatments and knowledge, and implementing these in practice for the patient who may benefit. An understanding of the ability to implement the proposed new complex ultrasound techniques in real-life clinical practice will be explored within this proof of concept study. 1.2 Study Aim This aim of this proof of concept study is to evaluate if emerging ultrasound technologies can provide reliable and reproducible imaging that can be used to assess the prostate gland in men with known localised prostate cancer and who are being managed with active surveillance. As with many research studies, data is collected in a strict and controlled environment which may not readily translate into a real life clinical setting. The feasibility for implementing changes to the imaging pathways in active surveillance will also be evaluated with the clinical team delivering the current and future service. 1.3 Primary and secondary objectives 1.3.1 Primary objective The primary objective of the study is to evaluate if emerging multi-parametric ultrasound technologies can provide a viable tool to be used in the active surveillance of men with known localised prostate cancer. 1.3.2 Secondary objectives Secondary objectives of this study are: * to evaluate the diagnostic parameters of diagnostic ultrasound that can be utilised to assess disease within the prostate gland. * To evaluate the diagnostic parameters of diagnostic ultrasound that can be utilised to assess disease progression within the prostate gland. * To evaluate if the intra and inter operator variability in the assessment of ultrasound imaging parameters of the prostate gland can be investigated. * To determine if a suitable standardise imaging protocol and reporting tool or model could be utilised in the reporting of transrectal ultrasound imaging of the prostate. * To gain a better understanding of how new ultrasound technology and techniques can be implemented and embedded into clinical practice. 1.4 Study phases This study is being undertaken as a doctorate research project but within the National Health Service (NHS) care setting. The study will consist of four phases: 1.4.1 Phase 1: In this initial phase, eligible men who have consented to participate will undergo a transrectal ultrasound examination with a standard ultrasound probe and, at the same attendance a transrectal ultrasound examination with a new and novel probe using 29MHz scanning frequency. The images obtained from this examination will be retrospectively compared with the MRI imaging that has been obtained as part of the standard care pathway. The images obtained will be reviewed by two health care practitioners with experience in prostate imaging and the outcomes of these reviews compared to evaluate agreement levels. 1.4.2 Phase 2: The second phase of the study will evaluate the use of multiparametric standard and micro ultrasound in the assessment of men who are on an AS or WW pathway. This phase the study will evaluate if there are any changes in the findings at repeat ultrasound examinations that can indicate disease progression. Eligible men, who have consented to participate, will again undergo a transrectal ultrasound examination with a standard ultrasound probe and, at the same attendance a transrectal ultrasound examination with a new and novel probe using 29 megahertz (MHz) scanning frequency. 1.4.3 Phase 3: The process and acceptability of implementing new interventions and technologies into everyday clinical practice is frequently overlooked following research trials. This third phase will explore the views of the health care practitioners, who have consented to participate, regarding the use and implementation of the proposed new technologies; skill mix between these professional groups will be required for successful long term practice. The participants will be recruited from differing professionals within the staff groups of Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. An adapted survey tool, derived from normalisation process theory framework, will be used to better understand how and if the new, complex, multi-parametric ultrasound techniques can be implementation within the organisational setting of everyday routine practice. A baseline assessment of confidence in knowledge and skills related to prostate cancer evaluation using ultrasound will be made. 1.4.3.1 Staff training: Participants in phase 3 will then be provided with training using specific multi-parametric ultrasound (US) techniques and will regularly score multi-parametric US examinations. Participants' confidence in knowledge and skills, related to prostate cancer evaluation using US, and how the participants feel this technology can be implemented into regular patient care will be assessed, using the same adapted survey at baseline at 6 - 12 months' post implementation. 1.4.4 Phase 4: A fourth phase of the study is planned. Once outcomes from the initial 3 phases of the study are known the lead researcher intends to organise a national meeting where results will be presented and discussion held between the research team and other centres providing a diagnostic prostate cancer service. The aim of this event is to disseminate results and to obtain a wider understanding of its acceptance beyond local practice. Multi-parametric ultrasound is novel and there may be resistance to wider implementation. Opportunities and barriers will be explored at this phase 4 event.