Medical student presents prostate cancer research at urology meeting

Hridhay Sheth presents his poster at the meeting.

Hridhay Sheth, a second-year medical student at the Whiddon College of Medicine, recently presented research regarding a new device designed to improve the accuracy of prostate cancer biopsy. The poster was presented at a joint meeting of the Focal Therapy Society and the Society of Urologic Robotic Surgeons in Washington, D.C. 

Sheth’s research evaluated the SmartBx biopsy management system, which was designed to preserve the location and orientation of biopsy specimens. His study compared results from 171 patients who underwent prostate biopsies using the SmartBx from 2022 to 2024 with results from a control group of 376 patients who underwent the standard procedure, transrectal ultrasonography-guided prostate biopsy, between 2019 and 2021.  

“The results showed that SmartBx had a higher cancer detection rate per core and reduced over-diagnosis of low-risk cancer while improving the detection of intermediate-risk cancers,” Sheth said. 

Traditionally, tissue cores, or samples, have been dropped directly into formalin vials, which can disrupt their orientation and location. The SmartBx is designed to preserve the length, orientation and integrity of biopsy tissue by maintaining its configuration within the needle. 

Sheth said the SmartBx demonstrated better Gleason score consistency and resulted in fewer upgrades at surgery, “indicating more accurate initial biopsies.” A Gleason score is a number that describes the aggressiveness of prostate cancer by showing how abnormal the cancer cells look under a microscope and how likely they are to grow and spread. 

Prostate cancer affects approximately 1 in 6 men during their lifetime and is the most common cancer in men other than skin cancer. 

Sheth said he has been passionate about the field of urology since working as a scribe in the specialty. “Prostate cancer has always intrigued me due to its prevalence among men and the significant implications it has for their health,” he said. 

Sheth conducted the research this past summer as part of the Whiddon College of Medicine Medical Student Research Program. He was one of four recipients of the Clyde G. Huggins Awards for his presentation at the 51st Annual Summer Research Day. 

Sheth credited Jatinder Kumar, MBBS, M.S., M.Ch., M.D., assistant professor of urology, and the Department of Urology for their guidance and support. “Dr. Kumar’s mentorship has been instrumental in shaping my research experience and providing me with many shadowing opportunities that have allowed me to see different sides of the field,” he said.