Speeding up scans for diagnosis
Grant information
Institution - University College London
Researcher - Mr Veeru Kasivisvanathan
Grant Award - £349,968
Duration of Funding - 2021-2025
Status - Complete
Reference - TLD-PF19-004
If we can do the scan in up to half the time, with fewer staff and at lower cost, that will make a huge difference in allowing every man who needs a scan to be able to get one in a timely fashion.
Why did we fund this project?
MRI scans have transformed prostate cancer diagnosis, enabling biopsies to be targeted more precisely.
The type of MRI scan most commonly used to diagnose prostate cancer today, known as multiparametric MRI (mpMRI), was introduced in part thanks to research we funded in 2008.
However, increasing demand for MRI scans means not all men can access one promptly.
That's why we funded a team led by Mr Veeru Kasivisvanathan to investigate whether MRI scans could be made faster, without reducing their accuracy.
What did the researchers do?
Biparametric MRI (bpMRI) is a shorter type of MRI scan that captures two of the three types of images collected in a standard mpMRI scan, allowing it to be completed in up to half the time.
To find out whether bpMRI scans detect prostate cancer as accurately as mpMRI, Veeru and his team conducted the PRIME clinical trial.
In the trial, every man received a full mpMRI scan. Radiologists first examined the images that would be captured in a bpMRI scan, before reviewing the complete set of images. Men whose scans suggested they might have prostate cancer were referred for a biopsy.
What did the researchers achieve?
The research showed that shorter bpMRI scans are just as accurate as mpMRI scans at detecting prostate cancers that need treatment.
Importantly, bpMRI was no more likely than mpMRI to detect slow-growing prostate cancers that are unlikely to cause harm or need treatment.
How will this benefit men?
The faster bpMRI scan could allow more men to have an MRI each day, helping more men receive timely diagnoses.
Another bpMRI trial, called PACIFIC and funded by Cancer Research UK, is already underway and will provide additional evidence to support the introduction of bpMRI into routine practice.
We'll continue to follow this research closely and share updates as new findings emerge.
Help us fund more research like this
Your donation helps us fund lifesaving research into better ways to diagnose prostate cancer.
