This post shares the abstract from my first independent research project, which I completed during my junior year as part of my premed journey. I worked under the mentorship of Dr. Volkan Beylergil, a Radiologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. This abstract is part of a manuscript I wrote and published in the Curieux Academic Journal. It is not a full research paper, but it was my first experience reviewing clinical trials, analyzing outcomes, and trying to understand how scientific questions can lead to real-world impact. I am proud to share what I learned.
Citation : Gurses, Ece, Evaluating MRI in Prostate Cancer Screening: Can It Reduce Overdiagnosis and Improve Outcomes? Originally published in the Curieux Academic Journal (peer-reviewed), Issue 50, May 2025, Part 3, pp. 173–182, URL: https://www.curieuxacademicjournal.com/spring-summer2025 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=5282676 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5282676
Research Abstract
Evaluating MRI in Prostate Cancer Screening: Can It Reduce Overdiagnosis and Improve Outcomes?
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men globally, and early detection plays a critical role in reducing mortality rates. The current screening methods, specifically Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing, often lead to overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatments. The emergence of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) offers a promising alternative, potentially providing improved specificity for detecting clinically significant cancers.
This study evaluates whether reducing overdiagnosis while maintaining early detection accuracy can enhance prostate cancer screening outcomes with MRI. We hypothesized that utilizing MRI, specifically multiparametric MRI (mpMRI), would decrease unnecessary biopsies and improve sensitivity for clinically significant prostate cancers compared to conventional PSA-based screening methods.
We conducted a structured comparison of published findings from three major clinical trials: STHLM3-MRI, PROMIS, and PRECISION. These trials collectively demonstrate that mpMRI improves sensitivity and detection rates while consistently reducing unnecessary biopsies.
The summarized findings indicate that mpMRI decreases unnecessary biopsies by approximately 28% while maintaining or enhancing the detection of clinically significant cancers. Although cost, access to imaging technology, and radiologist expertise remain limitations, the evidence supports mpMRI as a valuable tool for refining prostate cancer screening, especially among high-risk populations.
Thank you for reading. This project taught me that even technical data can have deep human meaning, and that asking better questions is just as important as finding the right answers.
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