Delayed PSMA PET/CT to improve detection of significant prostate cancer before biopsy

Delayed PSMA PET/CT Imaging for Diagnosing Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer in Biopsy-Naïve Men With Suspected Prostate Cancer

Observational Xijing Hospital · NCT07531329

This study tests whether adding a delayed (2–3 hour) PSMA PET/CT scan improves detection of clinically significant prostate cancer in treatment‑naïve men who are awaiting biopsy compared with the standard 60‑minute scan.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment1000 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexMale
SponsorXijing Hospital Academic / other
Locations9 sites (Lanzhou, Gansu and 8 other locations)
Trial IDNCT07531329 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This prospective, multicenter diagnostic accuracy study enrolls treatment‑naïve men with suspected prostate cancer who undergo dual‑time‑point PSMA PET/CT (standard whole‑body at ~60 minutes and delayed pelvic imaging at 2–3 hours) before biopsy. Each patient serves as their own control and all participants receive systematic 12‑core biopsy plus targeted cores when indicated, with histopathology (ISUP grade group ≥2) as the reference standard for clinically significant disease. The primary outcome compares the AUC of delayed versus standard SUVmax for detecting clinically significant prostate cancer, and secondary outcomes include optimal SUV thresholds, negative predictive value and potential biopsy avoidance, detection of additional lesions on delayed imaging, and subgroup analyses by PI‑RADS. Imaging metrics and diagnostic thresholds will be internally validated across participating centers.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Men with suspected, treatment‑naïve prostate cancer (PSA ≥4.0 ng/mL) who are willing to undergo PSMA PET/CT including a delayed pelvic scan and subsequent prostate biopsy.

Not a fit: Patients who have already received prostate cancer treatment, have recent other malignancies, are medically unfit for biopsy, or cannot attend a delayed imaging session are unlikely to benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, delayed imaging could increase detection of clinically significant cancers, reduce unclear scan results, and potentially lower unnecessary biopsies.

How similar studies have performed: Prior single‑center and retrospective studies have shown that delayed PSMA imaging can improve tumor‑to‑background contrast and reduce equivocal findings, but prospective multicenter validation is limited.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with suspected prostate cancer and a PSA level ≥4.0 ng/mL
2. Patients who undergo PSMA PET imaging (including delayed phase imaging) prior to prostate biopsy
3. Patients who are willing to undergo prostate biopsy
4. Patients who provide written informed consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who have received any prior prostate cancer-related treatment before the initial PSMA PET scan
2. Patients with a history of other malignancies within the past two years
3. Patients judged by the study investigator to be at risk for serious complications that could interfere with the normal conduct of the study

Where this trial is running

Lanzhou, Gansu and 8 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Treatment-naive Prostate CancerSuspected Prostate CancerMolecular ImagingProstate CancerPSMA PETDelayed imagingDiagnosticEfficacy
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.