MRI for Assessment of Hypoxia-Induced Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness

A prospective study including 180 consecutive patients with PCa referred to Oslo University Hospital, Radiumhospitalet, for surgical treatment. In vivo functional MRI examination will be performed within a few days prior to robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RALP). For a subgroup of patients FACBC PET will also be acquired prior to prostatectomy. A subgroup of intermediate and high-risk patients (D'Amico risk classification) will prior to surgery receive an intravenous infusion of the hypoxia-marker pimonidazole (Hypoxyprobe™-1)*. During surgery, bone marrow aspiration and blood collection will be performed for assessment of disseminated and circulating tumor cells. High-risk patients will undergo intraoperative lymph node dissection. Tumor tissue for molecular analyses will be sampled from prostate specimen prior to fixation. Prostate specimen and regional lymph nodes will be histopathologically examined for T- and N-classification, Gleason grade, presence of micrometastasis and areas of hypoxia. Histological and molecular findings will be correlated to MRI and PET findings and clinical data. Patients will be longitudinally followed to assess long-time clinical outcome (recurrence, metastatic disease, death).

*From 2013 oral administration is used.