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NCT07847385Recruiting

Tractography-Guided Nerve-Sparing in Prostate Cancer

PRO-TRACT: Prostate Tractography for Optimized Nerve-Sparing - A Pilot Study

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 29 Sept 2026

Brief summary (registry, in English)

Radical prostatectomy (RP) is an effective treatment leading to a high rate of oncological control. However, despite advances in robot-assisted RP, the genito-urinary function, especially erectile function and urinary continence, may be significantly impaired after surgery. Our study aims to characterize and map the nerve fibers surrounding the prostate before and after surgery using diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTI), a non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique. This relatively new technology, combined with the 3D tractography software, will allow us to create a personalized 3D model of the periprostatic nerves. This virtual model will help us to assess the nerve bundles and how the surgery impacts their integrity. DTI and 3D reconstruction will be performed before and 6 months after surgery. The pre-surgery 3D virtual model will be overlaid and mapped onto the intraoperative surgical view, providing the surgeon with a visual guide of the nerve fiber organization. At the post-surgery level, the 3D virtual model of the nerve bundles will be compared to the pre-surgery model. Post-treatment changes at 6 months may help assess nerve preservation and their relationship with erectile (dys)function. The main questions the clinical study aims to answer are: 1. Post-treatment DTI-Tractography parameter changes at 6 months may help assess nerve recovery and their relationship with erectile (dys)function (PROMs - IIEF-5 score) 2. Post-treatment DTI-Tractography parameter changes at 6 months may help assess their relationship with urinary function 3. At the post-surgery level, the 3D virtual model of the nerve bundles will be compared to the pre-surgery 3D model. 4. The pre-surgery 3D virtual model will be overlaid and mapped onto the intraoperative surgical view, providing the surgeon with a visual guide of the nerve fiber organization (mean surgery time, surgeon feedback assessment, etc., will be evaluated.) Tumor location based on the 3D model will also be explored.

Status (registry)
Recruiting
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
23 (estimated)
First submitted
31 Aug 2026
Start date
1 Sept 2026
Primary completion date
31 Dec 2027
Lead sponsor
Massimo Valerio
NCT number
NCT07847385

What you commit to

  • Study type: Interventional
  • Planned participants: 23
  • From 1 Sept 2026 to the primary completion date, 31 Dec 2027
  • 1 site in 1 country
  • Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them

Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.

Who cannot take part

Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.

Prior treatment

  • Pre-existing impaired sexual function before surgery (IIEF5 Score of ≤21)

Other illness

  • Inability to comply with study procedure (e.g. due to language barriers, psychological disorders, dementia, anxiety/claustrophobia during pelvic MRI etc.) or medical contraindications to MRI

Other

  • Unwillingness to participate.
  • Diagnosis of neuropathy

Who the study is looking for

  • Histological confirmed diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) based on prostate biopsy
  • Multidisciplinary indication for radical prostatectomy, validated by the Urology Tumor Board
  • No prior treatment of prostate cancer
  • Capacity to provide informed consent

Age in the registry: 18 years to - · Sex: Male · Does not accept healthy volunteers

Full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov

Sites (1)

Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.

SiteCityCountrySite status
Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève - Dept de Chirurgie - Service d'Urologie
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
GenevaSwitzerlandRecruiting

This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.