PSMA-PET imaging to guide prostate removal and protect nerves
Official title: PSMA-PET to Guide Prostatectomy: Can PSMA-PET Appropriately Modify Surgery, Reduce Nerve Damage and Optimize Quality-of-Life?
Funded at Indiana University Indianapolis · NIH-11294367 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This will see if a PSMA-PET scan using the 68Ga-P16-093 tracer can help surgeons choose nerve- and muscle-sparing surgery versus wider removal for men having prostatectomy for prostate cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $383,683 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA258994-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11294367 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer who are scheduled for radical prostatectomy and can attend the study site are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing prostatectomy, those with widespread metastatic disease, or those unable to have PSMA-PET or mpMRI are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this trial.
What this research studies
If you are a man scheduled for prostate removal, you'll get a PSMA-PET scan with an investigational tracer (68Ga-P16-093) in addition to the usual multiparametric MRI. The trial compares how well PSMA-PET and standard mpMRI detect cancer that has spread beyond the prostate and whether PSMA-PET changes the surgeon's plan. Some participants will have their surgery planned using PSMA-PET results and others will have usual planning, and the study will track surgical decisions and post-surgery urinary and sexual quality-of-life. The aim is to see if adding PSMA-PET helps surgeons avoid unnecessary nerve or muscle damage while still removing the cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce nerve damage and improve urinary and sexual quality of life after prostatectomy while maintaining strong cancer control.
How similar studies have gone: PSMA-PET imaging has shown promise for detecting prostate cancer spread, but using this specific tracer to guide surgical planning is new and not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
-
Indiana University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bahler, Clinton David — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Bahler, Clinton David
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.