# Feasibility Testing of Transpelvic Magnetic Stimulation as a Novel Intervention to  Improve Urogenital Function in Prostate Cancer Survivors

> **NIH VA I21** · VA SAN DIEGO HEALTHCARE SYSTEM · 2020 · —

## Abstract

The overall purpose of this SPiRE project is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a novel intervention
approach and to collect preliminary data for a future randomized clinical trial to rehabilitate urogenital
function in prostate cancer survivors. Prostate cancer is most common in men over 50 years and this cancer
incidence is especially high (29%) in the VA patients. With early diagnosis, patients can pursue potentially
curative interventions that include surgical procedures (radical retropubic prostatectomy). However, these
surgical treatments lead to problems with continence (urinary incontinence: UI) and sexual function (erectile
dysfunction- ED, a major form of sexual dysfunction) in as many as 30-70% of these cancer survivors.
Although it is recognized that the continence and sexual functions are critical issues affecting quality of life,
there has been only limited research into methods to prevent these forms of dysfunction. These derangements
are further impacted by age-related atrophy and fibrosis of corpus cavernosum, urethral sphincters, and that of
supporting pelvic floor muscles (ischiocavernosus-ICM and puborectalis-PRM). Hence, there is an urgent need
for non-invasive innovative approaches for urinary continence and sexual function rehabilitation to prevent this
problem in cancer survivors. This proposed feasibility study takes a novel interventional approach, using
repetitive Transpelvic Magnetic Stimulation approach (rTPMS) to prevent fibrosis and strengthen the PFM.
We propose to recruit VA patients that are scheduled to undergo prostate cancer surgery and perform a
randomized interventional study to determine the feasibility of rehabilitation potential of rTPMS. We will
estimate number of potentially eligible patients, rate of consent of eligible patients consent rate, overall uptake
rate (in relation to the number potentially eligible), retention rate, follow-up rates for questionnaires and
adherence to the interventions and imaging protocols. We will first evaluate all the baseline physiological as
well as morphological parameters of penis, urethra and pelvic muscles. Primary outcome measures for
assessment of UI will be the extent of reduction (%) in the number of UI symptom scores. For assessment of
ED, improvement in erectile function as measured by the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), a
validated, 5-item symptom score, will be used. Secondary outcome measures will be pad weight and PFM
changes that will be measured by MRI (UTE for fibrosis). For ED, penile blood flow and PFM changes
measured by Doppler blood flow, laser speckle contrast imaging and MRI (UTE for fibrosis), respectively.
Besides these therapeutic interventions, we also propose to test novel diagnostic tools to monitor blood supply
to the penile tissues (by Laser Doppler imaging) and scarring of these muscles (by a new MRI technique,
called ultrashort echo time-UTE). Next, we will test if TPMS will enhance blood flow and increase...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10114096
- **Project number:** 1I21RX003455-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** VA SAN DIEGO HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
- **Principal Investigator:** MAHADEVAN Raj RAJASEKARAN
- **Activity code:** I21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-10-01 → 2022-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10114096

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10114096, Feasibility Testing of Transpelvic Magnetic Stimulation as a Novel Intervention to  Improve Urogenital Function in Prostate Cancer Survivors (1I21RX003455-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10114096. Licensed CC0.

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