The FIND trial aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a specific scan, fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) to detect aggressive malignancies in detecting hidden prostate cancer in early-phase patients. Unlike its proven success in advanced stages, FDG-PET's utility in early-phase disease remained uncertain.

There is no single, simple test to detect prostate cancer. The available ones are either not highly accurate or invasive, such as prostate biopsies which can have side effects affecting men’s lives. 

FDG-PET is a highly sensitive, non-invasive imaging test used to detect malignancies and their spread and to stage and monitor the response to therapies. 

Given the uncertainty surrounding the use of FDG-PET in early-phase prostate cancer, the FIND trial was crucial to determine its effectiveness and influence on patient care. With 32 patients involved across three medical sites, the study aimed to provide clarity on whether FDG-PET could add value in detecting cancer beyond the prostate and influencing treatment decisions, potentially impacting future research directions.

Conducted between October 2021 and January 2023, the FIND trial revealed that FDG-PET did not detect additional cancer beyond the prostate in 93% of cases. Surprisingly, one-third of patients showed no differences in the FDG-PET imaging in the prostate despite confirmed cancer by other methods. 

While some incidental findings prompted further investigations, there were no significant advantages or disadvantages reported by patients. The trial concluded that FDG-PET has limited value for prostate cancer diagnosed and staged by other current tests, shaping decisions against its standard use at Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH). 

The findings, however, informed potential applications for FDG-PET in specific cases, contributing to the growth of RBWH Urology Departments research outputs and collaborations.