Recruiting

Irreversible Electroporation

Sponsor:

University Health Network, Toronto

Code:

NCT06451445

Conditions

Prostate Cancer

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: Male

Age: 50+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Irreversible Electroporation (NanoKnife)

Study Details

Brief summary:

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the safety and efficacy of Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) using NanoKnife technology in patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer. This patient population was chosen because they would otherwise be treated with conventional therapies with high side effects. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Is the NanoKnife system is effective at damaging prostate tumour cells, and killing the cancer?
2. Are there any safety concerns with the procedure, or major side effects caused by the treatment?

Participants will undergo IRE treatment with the NanoKnife system, and then complete follow-up appointments for 12-months after the procedure.

Conditions

Prostate Cancer

Study ID

NCT06451445

Start date

May 16, 2024

Status verified date

Jun, 2026

Completion date

May, 2033

Anticipated

Primary completion date

May, 2028

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: Male

Age: 50+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Is greater than 50 years of age
2. Has at least a 10-year life expectancy
3. Has histologically confirmed organ-confined prostate cancer, clinical stage ≤ T2c
4. Has a PSA ≤ 15 ng/mL or PSA density < 0.15 ng/mL2 if PSA is > 15 ng/mL
5. Has Gleason score 3+4 or 4+3
6. Has no evidence of extraprostatic extension by mpMRI
7. Has no evidence of seminal vesicle invasion by mpMRI
8. Physician is able to visualize prostate gland adequately on transrectal ultrasound imaging during qualifying biopsy
9. Has a transperineal or transrectal targeted prostate biopsy of MRI-visible lesions, plus 10-14 core systematic biopsy confirming Gleason = 7 in MRI target and absence of Gleason ≥ 7 outside target
10. A visible lesion on mpMRI that is accessible to Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) treatment \[Note: prostate cancer detected via systematic standard biopsy outside of the adjacent sextant location of the MRI visible lesion will meet entry criterion provided the positive core is Gleason 6; has fewer than 3 prostate biopsy fragments/cores positive\]
11. Willing and able to sign a written informed consent form.
12. Understands and accepts the obligation and is logistically able to present for all scheduled follow-up visits

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Has known hypersensitivity to pancuronium bromide, atricurium or cisatricurium
2. Is unfit for anesthesia or has a contraindication for agents listed for paralysis
3. Has an active urinary tract infection (UTI)
4. Has a history of bladder neck contracture
5. Is interested in future fertility
6. Has a history (within 3 years) of inflammatory bowel disease
7. Has a concurrent major debilitating illness
8. Had active treatment for a malignancy within 3 years, including malignant melanoma, except for prostate cancer or other types of skin cancer (Note: subjects with untreated active concomitant cancers are excluded, only subjects deemed to be in remission by their cancer care provider for at least three years are eligible)
9. Has any active implanted electronic device (e.g., pacemaker)
10. Is unable or unwilling to catheterize
11. Has had any prior or current prostate cancer therapy, including:

1. Biologic therapy for prostate cancer
2. Chemotherapy for prostate cancer
3. Hormonal therapy for prostate cancer within three months of procedure
4. Radiotherapy for prostate cancer
5. Surgery for prostate cancer
12. Has had prior prostate stricture surgery, urethral stent or prostatic implants
13. Has had prior major rectal surgery (except hemorrhoids)
14. Is unfit for pelvic MRI scanning (e.g., severe claustrophobia, permanent cardiac pacemaker, metallic implants that are likely to contribute significant image artifacts, allergy or contraindication to gadolinium (to enhance MRI)

Study Design

Enrollment

100 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: IRE Treatment Arm

All patients enrolled in this trial will receive IRE treatment with the NanoKnife System.

Interventions

Irreversible Electroporation (NanoKnife)

Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) using NanoKnife technology uses high voltage current pulses via probes placed around the prostate tumour via the perineum. The electricity damages the cell membranes rendering the cells dead. Hypothesized benefits of IRE over other focal therapy options include the ability to treat large or small lesions. Also, because the technology spares vessels, it can be used to treat prostate areas adjacent to sensitive structures (ie prostate apex near the sphincter and lateral peripheral zone near the neurovascular bundle). Finally, treatments take approximately 1-1.5 hours, thus the technology could be used to treat several patients per day.

Primary outcome measure

  • Rate of negative in-field biopsy at 12 months [ Time Frame: 1 year ]
  • Incidence of adverse events by type and CTCAE v5.0 severity through 12 months [ Time Frame: 1 year ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Locations

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

Recruiting

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 2C4

Contacts

More Information

Sponsor

University Health Network, Toronto

Last update posted

Jun 11, 2026

Last verified

Jun, 2026

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University Health Network, Toronto on 2026-06-11.