Novel Diffusion-Weighted MRI for High-Grade Prostate Cancer Detection
Abstract
Objective/Rationale: While prostate cancer is the most common cancer in U.S. men, only some cases are aggressive enough to require treatment. Diagnosing prostate cancer currently relies upon biopsy procedures that often miss the cancer and do not accurately separate men who need treatment from those who do not. The objective of this project is to develop less invasive markers that show the location of aggressive cancers in the prostate using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) images. Career Goals: Dr. Abern is a urologic surgeon with an emphasis in prostate cancer diagnosis, treatment, and research. His goal is to provide treatment for men with prostate cancer that maximize their quantity and quality of life. This grant will allow Dr. Abern to receive advanced coursework and mentoring from top prostate cancer scientists with an emphasis on proving which imaging tests are most accurate for the detection of aggressive prostate cancer. The research project is a careful approach to testing the accuracy and utility of a new MRI technology that will improve the confidence of Dr. Abern and other prostate cancer physicians in making an accurate diagnosis and recommending whether aggressive treatment is needed. Applicability of the Research: Any man for whom prostate cancer is suspected based on blood tests and physical examination may benefit from a more accurate imaging test to help diagnose and determine the aggressiveness of the disease. An accurate imaging test, if positive for aggressive cancer, would help make a biopsy procedure more accurate to confirm which men have cancer that needs to be treated. On the other hand, if the imaging test was negative for aggressive cancer, some men may be spared invasive biopsy procedures. The imaging test in this proposal has shown promise in other organs and in a small group of prostate cancer patients. At the conclusion of this project, we should have a solid idea of the accuracy of this new imaging test and whether it should be offered to men prior to a prostate biopsy procedure. Contributions to Advancing Prostate Cancer Research: Development and testing of imaging-based markers of prostate cancer will help other scientists understand the physical properties of the prostate that contain aggressive cancers. By providing not only prognostic information but also location, scientists may use this imaging test to guide focused treatment, monitor the success or failure of treatment, and determine when it may be safe to forego prostate biopsy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 04, 2016
- Source ID
- W81XWH1510346
Entities
People
- Michael Abern
Organizations
- United States Army
- University of Illinois at Chicago