Using nanoparticles to improve prostate cancer surgery

Molecular Phenotyping and Image-Guided Surgical Treatment of Prostate Cancer Using Ultrasmall Silica Nanoparticles

PHASE1 · Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · NCT04167969

This study is testing a new tracer to see if it can help doctors find prostate cancer cells better during surgery than the usual imaging methods.

Quick facts

PhasePHASE1
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment16 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexMale
SponsorMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (other)
Locations2 sites (New York, New York and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT04167969 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the safety and effectiveness of a novel tracer, 64Cu-NOTA-PSMA-PEG-Cy5.5-C' dot, to identify prostate cancer tumor cells before and during surgical procedures. By utilizing PET/MRI scans after the tracer injection, researchers aim to determine if this method provides more accurate localization of tumor deposits compared to standard imaging techniques. The study represents the first application of this tracer in human subjects undergoing prostate cancer surgery, focusing on its distribution and behavior in the body.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include adult males aged 18 and older with advanced prostate cancer, indicated by specific clinical stages, Gleason scores, or elevated PSA levels.

Not a fit: Patients with contraindications to MRI or those not scheduled for prostate cancer surgery may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to more precise surgical interventions for prostate cancer, potentially improving patient outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: While this specific approach is novel, similar studies using targeted imaging agents have shown promise in improving cancer detection and surgical outcomes.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

Primary RP + PLND

* Age ≥18 years
* Patients meeting one of the following criteria:

  * Tumor clinical stage T3a or higher
  * Gleason score 8-10, or
  * PSA level \> 20 ng/mL
* Patients deemed fit for surgery on the basis of preoperative evaluation at the physician's discretion
* Patient is scheduled for standard of care laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (with or without robotic assistance)

Salvage PLND

* Age ≥18 years
* Patients with presence of suspicious lymph node on CT or MRI (of a pelvic node =\> 10mm in short axis or a node with abnormal morphology such as roundness irregularity or loss of fatty hilum, or PSMA-avid on PSMA PET imaging
* Patients deemed fit for surgery on the basis of preoperative evaluation at the physician's discretion
* Patient is scheduled for standard of care salvage pelvic lymph node dissection (with or without robotic assistance)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Contraindications to standard-of-care MR imaging (e.g., metal implants, claustrophobia)
* Prior androgen-deprivation therapy for prostate cancer (N/A for Salvage PLND)
* Prior pelvic radiotherapy (N/A for Salvage PLND )
* Medical illness unrelated to the tumor that, in the opinion of the attending physician and principal investigator, will preclude administration of the tracer

  °This includes patients with uncontrolled infection, chronic renal insufficiency (EGFR \< 60 mL/min/1.73m2), myocardial infarction within the past 6 months, unstable angina, cardiac arrhythmias other than chronic atrial fibrillation and chronic active or persistent hepatitis, or New York Heart Association Classification III or IV heart disease
* Weight greater than the 400-lb weight limit of the PET scanner
* Unmanageable claustrophobia
* Inability to lie in the scanner for 30 min

Where this trial is running

New York, New York and 1 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.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Prostate Cancer, Molecular Phenotyping, Ultrasmall Silica Nanoparticles, PET/MRI, 64Cu-NOTA-PSMA-PEG-Cy5.5-C' dot tracer, -DFO-PSMAi-PEG-Cy5.5-C' dots, 19-333

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.