Clinical trials

Radical prostatectomy (RP) is an effective treatment leading to a high rate of oncological control. However, despite advances in robot-assisted RP, the genito-urinary function, especially erectile function and urinary continence, may be significantly impaired after surgery. Our study aims to characterize and map the nerve fibers surrounding the prostate before and after surgery using diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTI), a non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique. This relatively new technology, combined with the 3D tractography software, will allow us to create a personalized 3D model of the periprostatic nerves. This virtual model will help us to assess the nerve bundles and how the surgery impacts their integrity. DTI and 3D reconstruction will be performed before and 6 months after surgery. The pre-surgery 3D virtual model will be overlaid and mapped onto the intraoperative surgical view, providing the surgeon with a visual guide of the nerve fiber organization. At the post-surgery level, the 3D virtual model of the nerve bundles will be compared to the pre-surgery model. Post-treatment changes at 6 months may help assess nerve preservation and their relationship with erectile (dys)function. The main questions the clinical study aims to answer are: 1. Post-treatment DTI-Tractography parameter changes at 6 months may help assess nerve recovery and their relationship with erectile (dys)function (PROMs - IIEF-5 score) 2. Post-treatment DTI-Tractography parameter changes at 6 months may help assess their relationship with urinary function 3. At the post-surgery level, the 3D virtual model of the nerve bundles will be compared to the pre-surgery 3D model. 4. The pre-surgery 3D virtual model will be overlaid and mapped onto the intraoperative surgical view, providing the surgeon with a visual guide of the nerve fiber organization (mean surgery time, surgeon feedback assessment, etc., will be evaluated.) Tumor location based on the 3D model will also be explored.

Radical prostatectomy (RP) is currently one of the gold standard of care in managing localized prostate cancer (Pca). However, despite advances in Robot-Assisted RP (RARP), cancer cells may still be found (up to 42%) at the edge of the removed prostate specimen, commonly referred as Positive Surgical Margins (PSM). PSM are well-known risk factors of adverse oncological outcomes (biochemical recurrence). It is therefore essential to characterize intraoperatively the tumor extent. In RARP, the leading intraoperative margin assessment (IMA) technique, NeuroSAFE is based on Intra-operative frozen section (IFS) of both prostate lateral sides sampled at 3-5 mm intervals. However, despite proven oncological benefit, adoption is still limited to expert centers due to a prolonged operative time, loss of integrity of the surgical specimen for definitive histopathological analysis, omission of regions (apex, base), and logistical complexity (trained uropathologist, cryostat…). With this prospective single-center project, we wish to explore the use of non-invasive optical imaging technology, HyperSpectral Imaging (HSI), as a reliable alternative for examination of the ex-vivo prostate specimen to 1. Distinguish normal versus tumor tissue at the surgical margin in fresh specimen. 2. Quantify whether HSI can be integrated into the intraoperative workflow (feasibility), thus, image acquisition time and inference time should then be evaluated.