Clinical trial NCT06794333: Single Center Comparative Trial of Trans-Perineal Laser Ablation Vs Water Vapor Ablation
Official title: Comparative Efficacy of Trans-Perineal Laser Ablation Vs Water Vapor Ablation for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: a Single Center Randomized Controlled Trial
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Keywords: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
MISTs
LUTS
Rezum Vapor Therapy
Transperineal Laser Ablation
Lead sponsor: University of Pisa
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2025-01-27
Enrollment: 80
Sex: MALE
Minimum age (years): 50
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The primary aim of this clinical trial is to determine whether one of the two methods under investigation, TPLA or WVA, is superior in the treatment of BPH. Additionally, as a secondary objective, the study seeks to evaluate the potential superiority of one method over the other concerning the sexual parameters of treated participants, assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function 5 (IIEF5) and the Male Sexual Health Questionnaire - Ejaculatory Dysfunction (MSHQ-EJ).

The researchers will compare the two methods under investigation (TPLA and WVA) to assess the potential superiority of one over the other.

Participants will:

* be randomized 1:1 between the two techniques and will undergo treatment at time 0;
* undergo follow-up including uroflowmetry and assessment of the International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS), IIEF5, and MSHQ-EJ questionnaires at 3, 6, and 12 months.

Detailed description: Therapeutic options for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) encompass a wide range of both pharmacological and surgical approaches. BPH is an age-related condition that increasingly affects relatively younger individuals, starting from the age of 50.

Pharmacological therapy primarily involves medications that can alleviate symptoms but do not cure or lead to a regression of the prostate gland enlargement over time.

Surgical therapy aims to reduce the degree of obstruction, and in most cases, it can result in significant alterations in sexual function, such as inducing retrograde ejaculation or causing erectile dysfunction. These side effects are more common with the use of classical treatment methods, whose clinical value is widely recognized and confirmed by clinical evidence reported in international guidelines (EAU Guidelines, 2021 edition).

The classical surgical treatment methods include the removal of the adenoma (benign hyperplastic part of the prostate gland) through open surgery, transurethral resection (TURP), laser ablation with en bloc removal (holmium and thulium lasers), or direct cavitation (green light laser). These classical methods typically require hospital admission with a stay of three days or more, depending on the extent of postoperative bleeding and the risk of post-surgical obstructive complications (bladder clots).

On the other hand, some minimally invasive and innovative methods can reduce the symptoms caused by the disease while preserving the patient's sexual function. These techniques also allow for treatment without hospitalization or, at most, in a outpatients setting, utilizing local anesthesia or sedation and presenting a low risk of bleeding or other complications. Specifically, the minimally invasive technologies aim for thermal ablation of the hyperplastic tissue without cavitation. This approach results in longer healing times and clinical improvement, as they are dependent on cellular apoptosis, tissue necrosis, and spontaneous gland remodeling, which occur in the months following treatment, thus not producing immediate visible or effective results.

These methods include Rezum (WVA), I-Tind, and SoracteLite trans-perineal laser ablation (TPLA). All of these minimally invasive methods have been extensively validated by clinical studies and scientific evidence.

SoracteLite-TPLA increases the temperature of the treated tissue through the absorption of laser radiation delivered to the targeted tissue by very thin optical fibers inserted perineally. Exposure to high temperatures causes coagulative necrosis of the tissues. In contrast, WVA involves the transurethral injection of water vapor through a radiofrequency needle. The local temperature increase generated by radiofrequency and water vapor leads to progressive tissue necrosis, reducing the size of the prostate adenoma and significantly improving urinary flow.

It is also logical that the use of minimally invasive methods allows for treating a larger number of patients with a lower risk of complications, although with an apparently reduced effectiveness in deobstruction compared to classical methods. The economic and social advantages are further highlighted by the faster resolution of waiting lists and greater psychological acceptance by the patient, due to the preservation of certain sexual functions and the reduced personal burden associated with the complex system of hospitalization/anesthesia/surgery/outcomes.

The primary objective is to evaluate the efficacy of TPLA vs WVA treatment at 3, 6, and 12 months in patients with BPH in terms of improvement in uroflowmetry parameters and symptoms. Specifically, the uroflowmetry parameters analyzed include maximum flow (Qmax), average flow (Qmed), and post-void residual (PVR). For symptom assessment, the IPSS questionnaire will be used.

The secondary objective includes evaluating the impact of these methods on the sexual health of treated participants through the IIEF5 and MSHQ-EJ questionnaires, which will be administered at 3, 6, and 12 months.

All participants will therefore undergo follow-up at 3, 6, and 12 months, during which they will undergo uroflowmetry with recording of Qmax, Qmed, and PVR parameters, as well as administration of the IPSS, IIEF5, and MSHQ-EJ questionnaires. This is a single-center randomized clinical trial in which participants are randomized 1:1 into the two treatment arms by the researchers.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* PSA levels under 4 ng/ml (if PSA is over 4 ng/ml, a multiparametric prostate magnetic resonance will be performed; if a lesion with a PIRADS score over 2 is detected, a prostate biopsy will be conducted);
* Post void residual (PVR) over 50 ml;
* Maximum flow (Qmax) under 15 ml/s;
* IPSS score over 7;
* The possibility of undergoing transrectal ultrasound to assess the size of the prostate and prostate adenoma;
* Negative urinary culture.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Diabetes;
* Overactive or Underachieve bladder;
* Contraindications for performing MRI or prostate biopsy in cases where PSA is over 4 ng/ml;
* Intolerance to transrectal ultrasound;
* Intolerance or allergy to local anesthetics.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Improvement of Urodynamics parameters after 3 and 12 Months of Follow up
timeFrame: up to 12 months
measure: Improvement in post voided residual
timeFrame: up to 12 months
measure: Improvement in International Prostate Symptoms Score
timeFrame: up to 12 months
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Postoperative complications
timeFrame: up to 3 months
measure: Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) value
timeFrame: up to 12 months
measure: sexual outcomes
timeFrame: up to 12 months
measure: sexual outcomes
timeFrame: up to 12 months
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Pisa
country: Italy
facility: University of Pisa
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Pisa
name: Alessandro Zucchi, Professor
role: STUDY_CHAIR
References:
citation: van Riel LAMJG, van Kollenburg RAA, Vis AN, van Leeuwen PJ, de Reijke TM, de Bruin DM, Oddens JR. Safety and Feasibility of Soractelite Transperineal Focal Laser Ablation for Prostate Cancer and Short-term Quality of Life Analysis from a Multicenter Pilot Study. Eur Urol Open Sci. 2022 Apr 2;39:48-54. doi: 10.1016/j.euros.2022.02.012. eCollection 2022 May.
citation: McVary KT, Roehrborn CG. Three-Year Outcomes of the Prospective, Randomized Controlled Rezum System Study: Convective Radiofrequency Thermal Therapy for Treatment of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Due to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. Urology. 2018 Jan;111:1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2017.10.023. Epub 2017 Nov 6.
citation: Patelli G, Ranieri A, Paganelli A, Mauri G, Pacella CM. Transperineal Laser Ablation for Percutaneous Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Feasibility Study. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2017 Sep;40(9):1440-1446. doi: 10.1007/s00270-017-1662-9. Epub 2017 May 4.
citation: Pacella CM, Patelli G, Iapicca G, Manenti G, Perretta T, Ryan CP, Esposito R, Mauri G. Transperineal laser ablation for percutaneous treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a feasibility study. Results at 6 and 12 months from a retrospective multi-centric study. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis. 2020 Jun;23(2):356-363. doi: 10.1038/s41391-019-0196-4. Epub 2019 Dec 11.