On the last work day of 2023, Augustinas Matulevičius defended his thesis "Innovative Imaging Technologies and Genetic Tests for the Detection of Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer" and received a doctorate degree in the field of biological science. Congratulations!
The study presented in the thesis allowed to evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of adaptive prostate biopsy in order to detect clinically significant prostate cancer. According to the results of the study, the frequency of detection of clinically insignificant prostate cancer could be reduced in clinical practice by completely abandoning systematic prostate biopsy and replacing it with only adaptive (MRI/UG-guided) prostate biopsy. This would allow to reduce hyperdiagnosis and related unwanted outcomes as well as maintain the same frequency of detection of clinically significant prostate cancer. Based on the results of the study, it was concluded that a safe distance from the tumor focus is at least 10 mm, and in clinical practice, it would be considered a safe limit for focal hemiablation of the prostate gland as a radical treatment option for moderate-risk prostate cancer.
The dissertation was prepared in 2018-2022 at Vilnius University. Scientific research was supported by Vilnius University, Life Sciences Center and National Cancer Institute. Scientific leader - Prof. Dr. Feliksas Jankevičius (Vilnius University), scientific consultant - Prof. Dr. Sonata Jarmalaitė (Vilnius University).
The Thesis Defense Council was attended by Dr. Daumantas Matulis (Chairman of the Council, Vilnius University), Dr. Jonathan Arias (Vilnius University), Dr. Daiva Dabkevičienė, (Vilnius University), Prof. Dr. Vilnis Lietuvietis (Riga University Hospital, Latvia), Prof. Dr. Edita Mišeikytė Kaubrienė (National Cancer Institute).