Using PSMA-PET/CT to guide lymph node surgery in prostate cancer patients

Multi-institutional Evaluation of the Cost-effectiveness of PSMA-PET/CT for the Detection of Pelvic Lymph Node Invasion in Newly Diagnosed Prostate Cancer Patients

Not applicable Interventional Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital · NCT05000827

This study is testing if using a special imaging technique called PSMA-PET/CT can help doctors decide if prostate cancer patients need extra lymph node surgery to avoid unnecessary procedures and complications.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment706 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexMale
SponsorCanisius-Wilhelmina Hospital Academic / other
Locations1 site (Nijmegen, Gelderland)
Trial IDNCT05000827 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the effectiveness of Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen Positron Emission Tomography (PSMA PET/CT) as a tool to determine whether patients with prostate cancer should undergo extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND) during surgery. Patients with biopsy-confirmed prostate cancer and a calculated risk of lymph node involvement greater than 5% will be randomized into two groups: one receiving ePLND based on PSMA PET/CT results and the other undergoing the standard procedure regardless of imaging results. The aim is to reduce unnecessary surgeries, lower healthcare costs, and minimize patient complications while maintaining similar disease outcomes.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are men with biopsy-proven prostate cancer, no distant metastasis, and a risk of lymph node involvement greater than 5%.

Not a fit: Patients with a history of treated prostate cancer or those with distant metastasis will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to fewer invasive surgeries and reduced healthcare costs for prostate cancer patients.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results using imaging techniques like PSMA PET/CT for similar purposes, indicating potential success for this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Biopsy proven adenocarcinoma of the prostate
* Indication for ePLND combined with robot assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) (MSKCC nomogram \>5%, if not applicable when only MRI targeted biopsies are positive, the Briganti nomogram will be used)
* Suitable for robot-assisted ePLND and RARP
* Mentally competent and understanding of benefits and potential burden of the study
* Written informed consent
* No known allergies for PSMA tracer.

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of prior diagnosed or treated PCa
* Known concomitant malignancies (except Basal Cell Carcinoma of the skin)
* Unwillingness or inability to undergo PSMA PET/CT and/or ePLND and RARP
* PSMA non-avid PCa (local tumor activity)
* Presence of distant metastasis (M1)

Where this trial is running

Nijmegen, Gelderland

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 Prostate Cancer MetastaticProstate CancerLymph Node Metastases
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 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.