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Prostate CancerProBE-PCNCT04081636

Prostate Biopsy, Transrectal vs. Transperineal: Efficacy and Complications

A study testing Systematic Transrectal biopsy (TR-Bx), Targeted Transrectal biopsy (TR-Bx) and Systematic Transperineal biopsy (TP-Bx) in people with Prostate Cancer and PSA, run by Albany Medical College at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study evaluates the difference between 2 prostate biopsy methods, transrectal (through the rectal wall) and transperineal (through the skin) needle biopsy. Men who are in need of prostate biopsy due to clinical suspicions of prostate cancer will be randomly assigned (1:1) to either transrectal or transperineal… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Any age, men only
Conditions the study is for
Prostate Cancer, PSA, Infection
What is being tested?
Systematic Transrectal biopsy (TR-Bx), Targeted Transrectal biopsy (TR-Bx) and Systematic Transperineal biopsy (TP-Bx)
Type of treatment
Surgery or procedure
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
840 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
2 Sep 2019to 31 Dec 2024
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages Any age
  • Men only
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child, Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • All patients who are scheduled to undergo prostate biopsy for suspected prostate cancer as part of their regular medical care
  • Either with or without an MRI

Who cannot join

  • Patients with no access to rectum (due to previous rectal surgery)
  • Any abnormalities of the perineal skin (e.g. infection)
  • Patients whose procedure requires sedation or general anesthesia

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Albany Medical College

    Albany, New York, 12208

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Prospective, Randomized Study Comparing Transperineal and Transrectal Prostate Biopsy Efficacy and Complications (ProBE-PC Trial)

This study evaluates the difference between 2 prostate biopsy methods, transrectal (through the rectal wall) and transperineal (through the skin) needle biopsy.

Men who are in need of prostate biopsy due to clinical suspicions of prostate cancer will be randomly assigned (1:1) to either transrectal or transperineal approach.

This research study will scientifically determine if one biopsy method is better than the other in reducing complications and improving cancer detection.

Read the detailed description

There are two ways to take biopsy (tissue) samples from the prostate. The more commonly used method is trans-rectal needle biopsy of the prostate (TR-Bx) with a needle inserted through a probe in the rectum to reach the prostate.

TR-Bx is usually performed in the office, using local anesthesia, and often using a targeted biopsy approach using MRI/ultrasound fusion technique.

Trans-perineal biopsy (TP-Bx) with a needle inserted directly through the skin to reach the prostate.

Typically, TP-BX is performed in the outpatient surgical setting due significant pain associated with the procedure, requiring the use anesthesia and/or sedation.

TP-Bx. procedure is very uncommon in the USA and is often performed using ultrasound alone (less accurate), without the benefit of MRI guided targeted biopsy.

Now, with the availability of new devices, we are able to perform both TR-Bx and TP-Bx using MRI/ultrasound fusion guided targeted approach, in the office setting, using local anesthesia alone.

With the TR-Bx, there has been increasing risk of infection related complications, sepsis and hospital admissions.

The newer approach of biopsy TP-Bx may cause fewer infections and may have a higher accuracy of finding cancer.

Using validated questionnaires such as IIEF-6, IPSS and TRUS-BxQ, this randomized study of TR-BX and TP-Bx will address these questions:

  • Differences in the risk of infectious complications
  • Differences in the overall cancer detection rate and the high-grade cancer detection rate
  • Differences in the hemorrhagic and urinary side effects
  • Tolerability of both techniques with local anesthesia alone
  • Difference in the results of of MRI/US fusion targeted biopsy
  • Differences in the cost of the procedures
Being tested
Systematic Transrectal biopsy (TR-Bx), Targeted Transrectal biopsy (TR-Bx), Systematic Transperineal biopsy (TP-Bx), Targeted Transperineal biopsy (TP-Bx)
Keywords
Prostate biopsy, PSA, infection, bleeding
Medical subject headings
Prostatic Neoplasms, Infections, Hemorrhage

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Systematic Transrectal biopsy (TR-Bx)Procedure or surgery

    Also called ultrasound guided

    Through the rectum

  • Targeted Transrectal biopsy (TR-Bx)Procedure or surgery

    Also called MRI guided

    Through the rectum

  • Systematic Transperineal biopsy (TP-Bx)Procedure or surgery

    Also called ultrasound guided

    Through the perineal skin

  • Targeted Transperineal biopsy (TP-Bx)Procedure or surgery

    Also called MRI guided

    Through the perineal skin

Study groups in NCT04081636
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Systematic Transrectal biopsy (TR-Bx)Active comparatorUltrasound guided; needle inserted through the rectum to reach the prostate
Receives: Procedure: Systematic Transrectal biopsy (TR-Bx)
Targeted Transrectal biopsy (TR-Bx)Active comparatorMRI-guided; needle inserted through the rectum to reach the prostate
Receives: Procedure: Targeted Transrectal biopsy (TR-Bx)
Systematic Transperineal biopsy (TP-Bx)ExperimentalUltrasound guided; needle inserted directly through the skin to reach the prostate
Receives: Procedure: Systematic Transperineal biopsy (TP-Bx)
Targeted Transperineal biopsy (TP-Bx)ExperimentalMRI-guided; needle inserted directly through the skin to reach the prostate
Receives: Procedure: Targeted Transperineal biopsy (TP-Bx)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Rate of infectious complications

    Whether or not patient had an infection after the biopsy

    Measured: 30 days

  2. Clinically significant cancer detection rate

    The rate of grade group 2 prostate cancer detected in each study arm

    Measured: 14 days

Secondary outcomes (5)
  1. Rate of Bleeding complications

    The type of bleeding and its severity (blood in urine or stool)

    Measured: 30 days

  2. Tolerability under local anesthesia

    Pain scores; Need for additional analgesia

    Measured: 30 days

  3. Patient reported urinary function measures using IPSS questionaire

    International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS) to measure urinary function

    Measured: 30 days

  4. Cost of the procedures

    Differences in the actual cost of the procedures (including supplies, time)

    Measured: 30 days

  5. Patient reported sexual function measures using IIEF questionaire

    International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) to measure sexual dysfunction

    Measured: 30 days

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted9 Sep 2019
  2. Study start2 Sep 2019
  3. Primary completion31 Dec 2024
  4. Study completion31 Dec 2024

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Diagnosis
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Randomized 1:1 to either trans-rectal needle biopsy (TR-Bx) or Trans-perineal biopsy (TP-Bx) of the prostate. Both arms, either with or without MRI guided biopsy
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
840 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04081636
Sponsor's protocol ID
5479
Acronym
ProBE-PC
Status last verified
Dec 2025
First submitted
5 Sep 2019
Last updated
23 Dec 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Choi YH, Kang MY, Sung HH, Jeon HG, Chang Jeong B, Seo SI, Jeon SS, Kim CK, Park BK, Lee HM. Comparison of Cancer Detection Rates Between TRUS-Guided Biopsy and MRI-Targeted Biopsy According to PSA Level in Biopsy-Naive Patients: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis. Clin Genitourin Cancer. 2019 Feb;17(1):e19-e25. doi: 10.1016/j.clgc.2018.09.007. Epub 2018 Sep 13.

    PubMed 30415878
  • Kasivisvanathan V, Rannikko AS, Borghi M, Panebianco V, Mynderse LA, Vaarala MH, Briganti A, Budaus L, Hellawell G, Hindley RG, Roobol MJ, Eggener S, Ghei M, Villers A, Bladou F, Villeirs GM, Virdi J, Boxler S, Robert G, Singh PB, Venderink W, Hadaschik BA, Ruffion A, Hu JC, Margolis D, Crouzet S, Klotz L, Taneja SS, Pinto P, Gill I, Allen C, Giganti F, Freeman A, Morris S, Punwani S, Williams NR, Brew-Graves C, Deeks J, Takwoingi Y, Emberton M, Moore CM; PRECISION Study Group Collaborators. MRI-Targeted or Standard Biopsy for Prostate-Cancer Diagnosis. N Engl J Med. 2018 May 10;378(19):1767-1777. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1801993. Epub 2018 Mar 18.

    PubMed 29552975
  • Moldovan PC, Van den Broeck T, Sylvester R, Marconi L, Bellmunt J, van den Bergh RCN, Bolla M, Briers E, Cumberbatch MG, Fossati N, Gross T, Henry AM, Joniau S, van der Kwast TH, Matveev VB, van der Poel HG, De Santis M, Schoots IG, Wiegel T, Yuan CY, Cornford P, Mottet N, Lam TB, Rouviere O. What Is the Negative Predictive Value of Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Excluding Prostate Cancer at Biopsy? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis from the European Association of Urology Prostate Cancer Guidelines Panel. Eur Urol. 2017 Aug;72(2):250-266. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2017.02.026. Epub 2017 Mar 21.

    PubMed 28336078
  • Wu YP, Li XD, Ke ZB, Chen SH, Chen PZ, Wei Y, Huang JB, Sun XL, Xue XY, Zheng QS, Xu N. Risk factors for infectious complications following transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy. Infect Drug Resist. 2018 Sep 17;11:1491-1497. doi: 10.2147/IDR.S171162. eCollection 2018.

    PubMed 30271182
  • Borghesi M, Ahmed H, Nam R, Schaeffer E, Schiavina R, Taneja S, Weidner W, Loeb S. Complications After Systematic, Random, and Image-guided Prostate Biopsy. Eur Urol. 2017 Mar;71(3):353-365. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2016.08.004. Epub 2016 Aug 17.

    PubMed 27543165
  • Liss MA, Ehdaie B, Loeb S, Meng MV, Raman JD, Spears V, Stroup SP. An Update of the American Urological Association White Paper on the Prevention and Treatment of the More Common Complications Related to Prostate Biopsy. J Urol. 2017 Aug;198(2):329-334. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2017.01.103. Epub 2017 Mar 29.

    PubMed 28363690
  • Saade EA, Suwantarat N, Zabarsky TF, Wilson B, Donskey CJ. Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Escherichia coli Infections After Transrectal Biopsy of the Prostate in the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System. Pathog Immun. 2016;1(2):243-257. doi: 10.20411/pai.v1i2.123.

    PubMed 27774521
  • Xiang J, Yan H, Li J, Wang X, Chen H, Zheng X. Transperineal versus transrectal prostate biopsy in the diagnosis of prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. World J Surg Oncol. 2019 Feb 13;17(1):31. doi: 10.1186/s12957-019-1573-0.

    PubMed 30760274
  • Skouteris VM, Crawford ED, Mouraviev V, Arangua P, Metsinis MP, Skouteris M, Zacharopoulos G, Stone NN. Transrectal Ultrasound-guided Versus Transperineal Mapping Prostate Biopsy: Complication Comparison. Rev Urol. 2018;20(1):19-25. doi: 10.3909/riu0785.

    PubMed 29942197
  • Roberts MJ, Bennett HY, Harris PN, Holmes M, Grummet J, Naber K, Wagenlehner FME. Prostate Biopsy-related Infection: A Systematic Review of Risk Factors, Prevention Strategies, and Management Approaches. Urology. 2017 Jun;104:11-21. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2016.12.011. Epub 2016 Dec 19.

    PubMed 28007492
  • Altok M, Kim B, Patel BB, Shih YT, Ward JF, McRae SE, Chapin BF, Pisters LL, Pettaway CA, Kim J, Demirel HC, Davis JW. Cost and efficacy comparison of five prostate biopsy modalities: a platform for integrating cost into novel-platform comparative research. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis. 2018 Nov;21(4):524-532. doi: 10.1038/s41391-018-0056-7. Epub 2018 Jul 9.

    PubMed 29988098
  • Stefanova V, Buckley R, Flax S, Spevack L, Hajek D, Tunis A, Lai E, Loblaw A; Collaborators. Transperineal Prostate Biopsies Using Local Anesthesia: Experience with 1,287 Patients. Prostate Cancer Detection Rate, Complications and Patient Tolerability. J Urol. 2019 Jun;201(6):1121-1126. doi: 10.1097/JU.0000000000000156.

    PubMed 30835607
  • Meyer AR, Joice GA, Schwen ZR, Partin AW, Allaf ME, Gorin MA. Initial Experience Performing In-office Ultrasound-guided Transperineal Prostate Biopsy Under Local Anesthesia Using the PrecisionPoint Transperineal Access System. Urology. 2018 May;115:8-13. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2018.01.021. Epub 2018 Feb 1.

    PubMed 29409845
  • Mian BM, Kaufman RP Jr, Berstein A, Fisher HAG. Letter: Complications Following Transrectal and Transperineal Prostate Biopsy: Results of the ProBE-PC Randomized Clinical Trial. J Urol. 2024 Sep;212(3):511-512. doi: 10.1097/JU.0000000000004081. Epub 2024 Jun 7. No abstract available.

    PubMed 38847318
  • Mian BM, Feustel PJ, Aziz A, Kaufman RP Jr, Bernstein A, Fisher HAG. Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer Detection Following Transrectal and Transperineal Biopsy: Results of the Prostate Biopsy Efficacy and Complications Randomized Clinical Trial. J Urol. 2024 Jul;212(1):21-31. doi: 10.1097/JU.0000000000003979. Epub 2024 May 3.

    PubMed 38700844

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Systematic Transrectal biopsy (TR-Bx), Targeted Transrectal biopsy (TR-Bx) and Systematic Transperineal biopsy (TP-Bx) in people with Prostate Cancer and PSA, run by Albany Medical College at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Dec 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Rate of infectious complications (time frame: 30 days). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04081636, which also lists 15 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 23 Dec 2025.

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