The CONFIRM Project: A new approach to managing low grade prostate cancer

The CONFIRM Project is a clinical trial run by the E.J. Whitten Prostate Cancer Research Centre at Epworth Freemasons, led by Chief Investigator Prof Nathan Lawrentschuk.

This project aims to improve the management of low-grade prostate cancer, offering a less invasive and more accurate method to identify and monitor the disease.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. Current methods for managing low-risk prostate cancers are not always effective, sometimes missing aggressive cancer areas that need treatment. The new technique being tested, PSMA-PET/CT - which combine Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with computerised tomography (CT) - offers a less invasive alternative to annual biopsies and MRIs, providing a clearer and more accurate picture of the cancer. If these new scans can better detect prostate cancer compared to traditional methods, this could reduce the need for multiple invasive procedures and help ensure that only patients with truly low-risk cancer remain on active surveillance.

FFV supported the project with a Community Grant of $50,000. This grant supports the cost of PSMA-PET/ CT scans for 200 participants throughout the clinical trial.

The CONFIRM Trial is the first time that MRI and Biopsy is being compared to PSMA PET/CT and there is worldwide interest. Early findings were presented at Conferences in Australia, Europe and the United States, to great interest, and published one of the World’s leading urology journals - BJU International in October 2023.

By adopting PSMA-PET/CT, the CONFIRM Project aims to reduce the number of men experiencing cancer progression due to missed high-grade disease, ultimately saving lives and improving health outcomes for those with prostate cancer.