Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov
PSMA-PET: Deep Radiomic Biomarkers of Progression and Response Prediction in Prostate Cancer
PSMA-PET: Deep Radiomic Biomarkers of Progression and Response Prediction in Prostate Cancer (NCT03594760) is a Phase 3 interventional studying Prostate Cancer, sponsored by Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM). RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.
About This Trial
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common non-skin malignancy and the third leading cause of cancer death in North American men. The accurately mapped metastatic state is a necessary prerequisite to guiding treatment in practice and in clinical trials. Imaging biomarkers (BMs) can provide information on disease volume and distribution, prognosis, changes in biologic behavior, therapy-induced changes (both responders and non-responders), durations of response, emergence of treatment resistance, and the host reaction to the therapies. Of particular relevance to metastatic prostate cancer is the emergence of a promising imaging technique involving new prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography (PET) tracers. This approach has demonstrated higher sensitivity in detecting metastases, prior to and during therapy, than current imaging standard of care (CT and bone scan), and is not widely clinically available outside of the research realm in North America. Positron emission tomography / computer tomography (PET/CT) is a nuclear medicine diagnostic imaging procedure based on the measurement of positron emission from radiolabeled tracer molecules in vivo. PSMA is a homodimeric type II membrane metalloenzyme that functions as a glutamate carboxypeptidase/folate hydrolase and is overexpressed in PCa. PSMA is expressed in the vast majority of PCa tissue specimens and its degree of expression correlates with a number of important metrics of PCa tumor aggressiveness including Gleason score, propensity to metastasize and the development of castration resistance. \[18F\]DCFPyL is a promising high-sensitivity second generation PSMA-targeted urea-based PET probe. Studies employing second-generation PSMA PET/CT imaging in men with biochemical progression after definitive therapy suggest detection of metastases in over 60% of men imaged. Deep learning is defined as a variant of artificial neural networks, using multiple layers of 'neurons'. Deep learning has been investigated in medical imaging in numerous applications across organ systems. In oncology, basic artificial neural networks to support decision-making have previously been developed retrospectively in breast cancer and prostate cancer, but have not been validated or integrated prospectively. Novel data-driven methods are needed to predict outcomes as early as possible in order to guide the duration and the aggressiveness of a particular therapy. They are also needed for optimal patient selection based on the patient's response to a given therapy. Here the investigators hypothesize that the combination of a highly performing prostate cancer imaging technique combined with machine learning has high potential. The main objective of this study is to acquire PSMA-PET data in patients with prostate cancer who receive treatment and follow-up in order to enable the discovery of predictive imaging biomarkers through deep learning techniques.
What Stage of Research Is This?
Phase 3 trials confirm efficacy and safety in large patient groups (often 300–3,000+) and form the evidence base for an FDA approval submission. For Prostate Cancer, Phase 3 studies typically randomize participants between the investigational treatment and either a placebo or current standard of care. A successful Phase 3 result is the threshold most treatments need to clear before regulatory approval.
This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.
A target enrollment of 1,000 participants makes this a sizable late-stage trial. Studies in this range typically have enough power to detect clinically meaningful differences from a comparator and to characterize less-common side effects.
Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)
These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.
Original Eligibility Criteria
View original clinical language
Treatments Being Tested
18F-DCFPyL IV injection
Patient will receive one injection of 18F-DCFPyL and undergo PET-CT imaging
Locations (1)
Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.
How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial
Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT03594760), the sponsor (Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.
Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.
Authoritative Sources
The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NCT03594760 clinical trial studying?
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common non-skin malignancy and the third leading cause of cancer death in North American men. The accurately mapped metastatic state is a necessary prerequisite to guiding treatment in practice and in clinical trials. Imaging biomarkers (BMs) can provide information on disease volume and distribution, prognosis, changes in biologic behavior, therapy-induced changes (both responders and non-responders), durations of response, emergence of treatment resistance, and the host reaction to the therapies. Of particular relevance to metastatic prostate cancer is the … The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.
Who can participate in NCT03594760?
Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.
How do I contact the trial site for NCT03594760?
Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.
Is participating in a clinical trial safe?
Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.
Where can I verify the data on this page?
Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.
How This Page Is Built
Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT03594760. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT03594760. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."
Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.
Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.