Implementation of contrast-ultrasound dispersion imaging for better prostate cancer care

ended

Prostate cancer (PCa) causes 1/5 of new cancer cases and 1/10 of cancer deaths in western males. Timely diagnosis is crucial to enable effective treatment, but this is hampered by the inadequacy and cost of the available diagnostics based on multiple systematic biopsies, which cause discomfort and health risks because of their invasiveness. Moreover, they fail to provide accurate cancer localization, resulting in either over- or under-treatment. A new diagnostic method is thus needed that is accurate and cost-effective. Our ambition is to provide patients with accurate diagnosis of PCa by ultrasound imaging. Because ultrasound equipment is affordable and widely available, our method will save lives and cost by enabling noninvasive, timely diagnosis. Over the past years, through a synergic effort of technical and clinical research, we have developed contrast-ultrasound dispersion imaging (CUDI), a revolutionary option to determine cancer location and aggressiveness by detection and characterization of cancer angiogenesis. Our results in 150 patients confirm the accuracy and clinical value of the method. With this project, we will take CUDI to the next level, establishing the basis for its clinical and commercial translation. To this end, we will realize a commercially-viable software implementation, accounting for user experience, clinical workflow, and regulatory compliance. This project will build on a strong network of international collaborations with key opinion leaders in PCa diagnostics and treatment. We will also account for patient experience via the Dutch Prostate Cancer Association. The establishment of a dedicated start-up driving the valorization activities will provide an additional boost towards the clinical implementation of CUDI. Our experienced project team combines complementary expertise from academia, industry, and clinic, establishing a solid basis for the valorization and clinical translation of CUDI.