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NCT Number: NCT05710861

Cost-utility of Focal HIFU vs Prostatectomy

Medico-Economic Randomized Trial comparing Focal HIFU Treatment to Radical Prostatectomy in Patients with Favorable Intermediate Risk Prostate Cancer

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Key information

Age range

50 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Clinique Saint Vincent, Besançon, France

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About this study

Standard treatment option of intermediate risk (ISUP2) prostate cancer (PC) is either radical prostatectomy (RP) or radiation therapy (RT). An attractive option for selected patients and for the health care system would be to spare the preserved gland to decrease urinary, sexual and digestive side effects of whole-gland treatments keeping with a good cancer control. For these reasons, focal treatments have been developed in localized PC. The principal objective of the EMERHIT study is to estimate, from the health system point of view, the efficiency (cost/utility study) of focal HIFU (F-HIFU) for intermediate risk PC compared to RP (either by open, laparoscopic or robotic surgical approach) at 24 months. It will be a multicentric pragmatic clinical trial, comparative, with no insu, randomized in two parallel groups :

  • (1) F-HIFU treatment
  • (2) RP Randomization will be equal (ratio 1:1), stratified on the centers and performed maximum at 2 months before the procedure. The comparison to the SNDS data will use the NIR of the patients selected for the study. The use of the SNDS data will allow, on top of the estimation of the care cost, to increase the patient's follow-up (with no supplemental visit) and measure, at 48 months, costs, mortality rate and cancer control measures From version 4.0 of the protocol, randomisation will be adjusted to a 2:1 ratio and stratified by centre.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • 45-75 yo male harboring a non-treated localized prostatic adenocarcinoma of maximum Gleason score 3+4, ISUP 2 unilateral on at most maximum 2 contiguous sextants (favorable intermediate risk),with or without ipsilateral or contralateral focus of score 3+3 (ISUP1).
  • Tumor visible on MRI and proven by systematic and/or targeted biopsies according to the center's practices, regardless of the route used (transrectal or transpirenal)
  • Or patients under active surveillance whose follow-up prostate biopsies reveal unilateral ISUP2 on at most 2 contiguous sextants (favorable intermediate risk), with or without ipsilateral or contralateral Gleason 3+3 focus (ISUP1)
  • Patients with several suspicious foci on MRI may be be included if only one of these foci is confirmed by targeted biopsies with an ISUP2 score. If more than one suspected site on MRI is confirmed by targeted biopsies, these should be unilateral ISUP2 on a maximum of 2 contiguous sextants (favourable intermediate risk), with or without an ipsilateral or contralateral site with a Gleason score of 3+3 (ISUP1).
  • stage T1c-T2,
  • with PSA <20 ng/ml,
  • with prostate volume less than 150 ml,
  • patient clearly informed of the study and having agreed, with sufficient time for reflection to participate by signing the study's informed consent form,
  • patient affiliated to or benefiting from a social security scheme

Exclusion criteria

  • Metastatic prostate cancer.
  • Gleason score > 3+4 (ISUP>2).
  • Adenoma prostate carcinoma Cribriform or intraductal.
  • Previous treatment anterior for the same cancer, whatever modality.
  • Contra-indication to pelvic MRI with gadolinium injection.
  • Contra-indication to surgery or general anesthesia.
  • Patient who refuse the one-year follow-up control biopsy after F-HIFU.
  • Presence of implant (stent, catheter) less than 1 cm from the treatment area.
  • Urinary or rectal fistula.
  • Anal or rectal stenosis or any other abnormality that may interfere with the Focal One® endorectal probe introduction.
  • Anatomic abnormality of the rectum or rectal mucosa.
  • Presence of a urinary artificial sphincter, a penile prosthesis or intraprostatic implant, i.e. urethral prosthesis.
  • Bladder neck and/or urethral stenosis or sclerosis.
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (colon or rectum).
  • Ongoing UTI (should be treated before the F-HIFU or the RP).
  • Previous anal or rectal surgery that may interfere with the anal probe introduction.
  • Latex allergy.
  • Rectal wall thickness > 10 mm.
  • Tumor not accessible to a F-HIFU treatment (tumors located in the fibro-muscular anterior zone).
  • Previous not controlled cancer and/or treated since less than 5 years (except basocellular skin cancer).
  • Patient not able to understand the trial objectives or refusing to adhere to the trial instructions.
  • Patients under law-protection.
  • Patient in an ongoing research trial.
  • Patient with a severe health or psychologic problem that could impair the protocol pathway.

Treatment and study plan

F-HIFU

Device

A F-HIFU treatment will be performed with the Focal-One® machine according to the predefined treatment area for each patient using the standard procedure in place in each therapeutic center and according to the user's manual edited by the company, under locoregional or general anaesthesia.

radical prostatectomy

Procedure

A Radical Prostatectomy will be performed according to the standard procedure in place in each center, under general anaesthesia, through an open, laparoscopic or robot-assisted laparoscopic approach

Primary outcomes

  1. The cost/utility ratio expressed as differential cost per QALY in favor of F-HIFU compared to RP (open, lap or robot) at 24 months.

    Time frame: 24 months

    Utility will be measured at baseline and at 6, 12 and 24 months using the EQ-5D-5L self-administered questionnaire.

    Costs will be estimated from the perspective of the French health system. They will be collected by probabilistic matching with data from the SNDS using data from the inclusion hospitalization of each patient included in the the trial.

Secondary outcomes

  1. The per-year of preserved life differential cost between F-HIFU and RP

    Time frame: 48 months

    The per-year of preserved life differential cost at 48 months between F-HIFU and RP from the SNDS database evaluated by micro-costing

  2. Differential cost between F-HIFU and open, lap or robotic RP

    Time frame: 24 months

    Differential cost of per-QALY improved at 24 months between F-HIFU and open, lap or robotic RP evaluated by micro-costing

  3. Real production cost (€) of F-HIFU and RP

    Time frame: 48 months

    Real production cost (€) of F-HIFU and RP evaluated by micro-costing

  4. Net benefit (€) for the Health Insurance

    Time frame: 48 months

    Net benefit (€) for the Health Insurance of a diffusion of F-HIFU into the French Health System for patients with favorable intermediate risk PC evaluated by micro-costing

  5. Survival with no salvage treatmente.

    Time frame: 12, 24 and 48 months

    Survival with no salvage treatment at 12, 24 and 48 months, evaluated in part from the SNDS database. Optional salvage treatments possibly being: a second F-HIFU, RP or radiotherapy with or without androgen deprivation. All salvage treatments, except the F-HIFU, are already reimbursed by the French Health System and available in the SNDS database.

  6. Overall survival

    Time frame: 12, 24 and 48 months

    Overall survival at 12, 24 and 48 months measured from the inclusion date to the date of death, all causes of death being included or the date of the last visit or at 48 months

  7. Cancer specific survival

    Time frame: 12, 24 and 48 months

    Cancer specific survival at 12, 24 and 48 month measured from the date of inclusion to the date of death due to the progression of PC or the date of the last visit. Causes of death are available in the SNDS database since it is implemented by the CEpiDC

  8. Androgen deprivation-free survival

    Time frame: 12, 24 and 48 months

    Androgen deprivation-free survival (equivalent to metastasis-free survival) at 12, 24 and 48 month measured from the inclusion date to the first prescription of androgen deprivation therapy or the date of the last visit

  9. Urinary and sexual functions

    Time frame: Inclusion and 1, 6, 12 and 24 months

    Urinary and sexual functions will be evaluated at inclusion then at 6, 12 and, 24 month using auto-questionnaires EPIC-26

  10. Patient's quality of life

    Time frame: Inclusion and 1, 6, 12 and 24 months

    Patient's quality of life will be evaluated at inclusion then at 6, 12 and 24 month using the auto-questionnaires EORTC QLQ C30

  11. Urinary and sexual functions

    Time frame: Inclusion and 1, 6, 12 and 24 months

    Urinary and sexual functions will be evaluated at inclusion then at 6, 12 and, 24 month using auto-questionnars IPSS

  12. Urinary and sexual functions

    Time frame: Inclusion and 1, 6, 12 and 24 months

    Urinary and sexual functions will be evaluated at inclusion then at 6, 12 and, 24 month using auto-questionnaires IIEF-5

  13. Patient's quality of life

    Time frame: Inclusion and 1, 6, 12 and 24 months

    Patient's quality of life will be evaluated at inclusion then at 6, 12 and 24 month using the auto-questionnaires QLQ PR25

  14. Patient's quality of life

    Time frame: Inclusion and 1, 6, 12 and 24 months

    Patient's quality of life will be evaluated at inclusion then at 6, 12 and 24 month using the auto-questionnaires EQ-5D-5L

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Franck BLADOU, PROF

CONTACT

[email protected]

+33557820162

Grégoire ROBERT, PROF

CONTACT

[email protected]

+335 56 79 55 47

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Bordeaux

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Randomized Medical-Economic Trial Comparing Focal HIFU Treatment to Total Prostatectomy in Patients With Intermediate Prognosis Prostate Cancer

Acronym: EMERHIT

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2029
Study completion
2029
First posted
Feb 2, 2023
Registry last updated
Apr 9, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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