Tissue Resonance Interaction Method (TRIMprob) has the potential to be used alongside the recognized tests in the screening protocols for prostate cancer

Abstract:   The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the magnetic induction technique with a nonlinear tunable oscillator (the Tissue Resonance Interaction Method [TRIMprob]) in the diagnosis of prostate cancer (CaP). Overall, 148 men were split into two groups (patients at risk of CaP [Group 1] and controls [Group 2]) and evaluated with the TRIMprob. Group 1 consisted of 100 patients (mean age: 63.8 ± 7.2 years) with elevated prostate-specific antigen (>4 ng/mL) levels and/or abnormal digital rectal examination. Eleven patients (Group 2a, mean age: 59.5 ± 7.3) with previously biopsy-proven CaP served as positive controls. In addition, 37 voluntary men (Group 2b, mean age: 39.8 ± 10.4) with normal prostate-specific antigen and digital rectal examination without lower urinary tract symptoms served as negative controls. Non-linear resonance was analyzed at 465 MHz and a cut-off value of 40 units was detected as the resonance value for the best threshold to distinguish benign conditions from CaP after transrectal ultrasonography-guided biopsy with a standard 10–12 core technique in Group 1. Mean resonance values (±standard deviation) with the TRIMprob examination for patients in Groups 1 and 2b were 36.72 ± 22.35 and 73.64 ± 10.06, respectively, whereas for patients in Group 2a, it was 13.73 ± 12.12 ( P  < 0.01). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the TRIMprob using the study cohort of Group 1 were found as 76%, 61.3%, 39.6% and 88.5%, respectively. Despite some technical limitations, the non-invasive TRIMprob examination may have a role in screening protocols for CaP.