Can focused ultrasound replace watchful waiting for prostate cancer?
NCT ID NCT03531099
First seen Aug 04, 2026 · Last updated Aug 05, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 3 trial tests whether focused high-intensity ultrasound (HIFU) can destroy low-risk prostate tumors without the side effects of radical treatments. Men aged 50-80 with a single, low-risk tumor will be randomly assigned to either HIFU or active surveillance (regular monitoring). The main goal is to see if HIFU reduces the number of men who eventually need radical treatment like surgery or radiation within four years.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Focused high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy using the Focal One device
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could offer a less invasive treatment option for low-risk prostate cancer, potentially reducing the need for radical surgery or radiation while avoiding the anxiety of watchful waiting.
- What could go wrong
- The trial is relatively small and early-stage, and HIFU may not completely eliminate the cancer, requiring additional treatments. There are also risks of side effects from the procedure itself.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 3
Large-scale testing in a bigger group. Usually the last step before a treatment can be approved.
- Participants
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108 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Oct 2018
- Expected to finish
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Oct 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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50 to 80 years
- Sex
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Male participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Patient having been clearly informed of the study and having accepted, with sufficient reflection time, to participate by signing the informed consent form of the study. * Age between 50 and 80 years with a life expectancy of more than 5 years. Patients between the ages of 75 and 80 will need to have G8 score \> 14. * Initial diagnosis of localized prostate cancer (T1c or T2a) with the following characteristics: * Only one Target tumor on MRI on a maximum of 2 contigous sextants. Case allowed: * If more than one target tumor on MRI, only one of them must be confirmed by targeted prostate biopsies. * If no target tumor on MRI, only 2 contigous sextants must be positive on prostate biopsies * A maximum tumor length\> 3 mm or at least 3 positive biopsies on all biopsies performed (randomized biopsies and/or MRI/Ultrasound Fusion-Guided Prostate Biopsy). * Gleason 6 score (risk group 1 of the D'Amico classification). * Tumor positioned so that a safety distance of at least 9 mm from external sphincter can be defined during HIFU-FOCAL treatment in prostate tissue around the target. * PSA ≤ 15ng / ml. * Patient affiliated with health insurance or beneficiary of an equivalent plan. Exclusion Criteria: * Contraindications to treatment with HIFU-F: * Tumor not accessible. * Multiple intra prostatic calcifications inducing, on ultrasound, a shadow cone in the prostate preventing the penetration of ultrasound and thus the realization of the treatment. * History of pelvic irradiation * Presence of an implant (stent, catheter) located less than 1 cm from the treatment area. * Fistula of the urinary tract or rectum. * Anal or rectal fibrosis, anal or rectal stenosis or other abnormalities making it difficult to insert the Focal One® probe. * Anatomical abnormality of the rectum or rectal mucosa. * Patient with artificial sphincter, penile prosthesis or intra prostatic implant, eg stent. * History of intestinal inflammatory pathology. * Uro-genital infection in progress (the infection to be treated before HIFU treatment). * Anterior surgery at the level of the anus or rectum making the introduction of the probe impossible. * Allergy to latex. * Thickness of the rectal wall\> 10mm. * TURP indication. Bladder neck incision is allowed . * Patient with a medical contraindication to Sonovue® injection. * Patient with a medical contraindication on MRI. * Patient already treated for prostate cancer (hormone therapy, radiotherapy, surgery). * History of uncontrolled cancer and / or treated for less than 5 years (with the exception of basal cell skin cancer). * History of sclerosis of the bladder neck or urethral stenosis. * Patient with a several bleeding risk according to medical advice (patient with oral anticoagulant therapy must receive an alternative therapy if randomized in HIFU-F arm). * Patients with unstable neurological pathology. * Patient who has been treated for a therapeutic trial within 30 days of enrollment or who wishes to participate in an ongoing study that may interfere with this study. * Legal person protected by law. * Patient not able to understand the objectives of the study or refusing to comply with postoperative instructions.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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CHU de Toulouse - Hôpital de Rangueil
Toulouse, 31400, France
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Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud
Pierre-Bénite, 69495, France
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Clinique Saint-Vincent
Besançon, 25044, France
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Clinique Urologique Nantes Atlantis
Saint-Herblain, 44800, France
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Département d'Urologie, Institut Montsouris
Paris, 75014, France
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Groupe Hospitalier Pellegrin - CHU
Bordeaux, 33076, France
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Polyclinique du parc Rambot
Aix-en-Provence, 13100, France
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Service d'Urologie CHRU de Lille, Hôpital HURIEZ
Lille, 59000, France
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Service d'Urologie Générale de Santé - Hôpital Privé La Louvière
Lille, 59000, France
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Service d'Urologie et Chirurgie de la Transplantation, Hôpital Edouard Herriot,
Lyon, 69437, France
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Service d'Urologie, CHU de Guebwiller Colmar
Colmar, 68024, France
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Service d'Urologie, Clinique Tivoli Ducos
Bordeaux, 33000, France
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Service d'Urologie, Hôpital Foch
Suresnes, 92150, France
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Service d'urologie Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille - Hôpital Marseille Nord
Marseille, 13915, France
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- New PET tracer aims to light up hidden cancer targets
- Can daily adaptive radiotherapy spare healthy tissue in prostate cancer?
- Can a radioactive tracer and MRI reveal prostate Cancer's true extent?
- Five-Fraction radiation plus hormone therapy tested against High-Risk prostate cancer
- Can a 10-Hour eating window fight cancer fatigue?