Prostate cancer (PC) is a frequent and diagnostically challenging disease; the course of the disease is difficult  to predict concerning  staging and progression. Novel molecular imaging
markers and imaging techniques provide an attractive strategy to examine patients with non-invasiveprostate cancer. Today there is no single method available which can accurately
provide this important information. In this study we aim to examine novel molecular markers and imaging methods in an orthogonal prospective clinical set-up to evaluate their ability to accurately diagnose and predict the course of disease  in patients with PC.
We face large unsolved dilemmas in the management of PC. First, we need better tools to select patients with aggressive disease for local therapy and patients with less aggressive disease for active surveillance. Secondly, we need tools to identify  the right patients for
surgery, radiotherapy or combined regimes .
The purpose of this study  is therefore to develop novel clinical methods for non-invasive imaging of PC through new MRI and PET / CT applications and study these in primary tumour staging, tumour progression and treatment response. The overall hypothesis is that a multitargeted approach is necessary to advance the prediction and prognostic value of PC diagnosis. The specific aims of this prospective study  are:

  1. To investigate the clinical value (location, size, and prognosis) and inter-modal correlation of pre-diagnostic prostate MRI, [82Rb]Rubidium, and [11C]donepezil PET in patients with suspected  PC.
  2. To evaluate the assessment of pathological lymph nodes and bone metastases in patients with PC by MRI and [11C]donepezil parasympathetic PET imaging.
  3. To investigate the extent to which the diagnosis can be made with combined MRGB and [11C]donepezil PET in patients who have previously undergone repeated TRUS biopsies without confirmed diagnosis.
  4. To develop (i) a hypoxic gene classifier for prognostication? in radiotherapy for PC and (ii) to investigate the relationship between hypoxic gene expression and metastasis to pelvic lymph nodes.

Contact: Michael Borre MD, Professor, Department Chair, PhD, DMSci., borre@ki.au.dk