Swedish PRrecision medicine Initiative for Novel Treatment and Research

The SPRINTR Swedish PRrecision medicine Initiative for Novel Treatment and Research is building a research infrastructure with the goal of driving the development of biomarker-driven precision medicine in cancer.  

Men who are being investigated for prostate cancer are offered to participate in the study as a natural part of the clinical routine. By simultaneously collecting data from molecular profiling, imaging, registries and other information sources, a multimodal platform cohort is built that enables high-quality cancer research with the goal of improving both quality of life and survival.

SPRINTR is being developed from the beginning as a scalable model that can be expanded to more cancer groups nationally in collaboration with existing infrastructure and national initiatives. 

The infrastructure consists of three interacting components that together form a unified whole:

• A central core for research person inclusion and smart IT solutions that connect national research and healthcare environments.
• A joint agreement package and governing documents, which make it possible to handle personal data securely and efficiently between regions, higher education institutions and external actors.
• Digital tools for contact with research subjects and study administration, which improve matching to clinical trials and make it easier to include participants correctly and quickly.

SPRINTR is first developed for prostate cancer, but is originally built as a flexible and scalable model – ready to be used for all cancers nationally.

Read more about the research project

👉 Information for study participants

SPRINTR is a nationwide research study in Sweden that explores the best ways to investigate and treat prostate cancer based on each patient's individual situation.

The study has approval from the Swedish Ethical Review Authority and is conducted through collaboration between healthcare providers and universities in Sweden.

Who can join SPRINTR? If you've had a PSA test, are being evaluated for suspected prostate cancer, or have already been diagnosed with prostate cancer, you are eligible to participate. If you haven't been contacted or informed about the study by your healthcare provider but still want to join, you can reach out to the nearest participating clinic (link coming soon).

What does participation involve? Participation is voluntary and does not interfere with your regular care. If you decide to participate, you are providing consent for your samples and health information to be used for research. You may also be contacted later about participating in other studies. All data is handled in accordance with Swedish law and is coded to protect your personal information. By taking part, you help improve the development of more accurate and gentler prostate cancer treatments.

👉 Information for staff

SPRINTR is designed to be easily integrated into everyday clinical practice. The approach can be adapted to the conditions at participating clinics.
Here, you will find practical information on how to include patients, where to find materials for information and consent, as well as how sampling and data collection are carried out. You will also find contact information for those responsible for the study.

SPRINTR – a study integrated into clinical routine
The men being investigated for suspected prostate cancer receive an invitation to the study along with an invitation to a biopsy. Information materials and consent forms are sent electronically as PDFs via the medical record system/1177 or by traditional mail. Men who do not have suspected prostate cancer but have taken a PSA test, or men with confirmed prostate cancer, can also be invited. Obtaining consent can be done in various ways. After reading the research subject information and having the opportunity to ask questions, the research subject can consent entirely on their own using a QR code and Bank-ID, or get help from clinic staff to consent digitally. If there are obstacles to using the electronic consent tool, a signed consent form can be provided. Consent must be recorded in the medical record. Integration with RCC's study database (INCA EDC) for manual consent recording is under development.

Sampling in the study involves biopsies taken according to clinical routine, which can then be used for various staining and RNA/DNA analyses. It is also possible to start biobanking of blood and urine for research purposes during diagnosis or follow-up. These samples are managed via SIB (healthcare-integrated biobanking) and registered in Biobank North. As a healthcare professional, you play a vital role in building a national infrastructure for future biomarker-driven treatment studies.

👉 For researchers and collaborators

SPRINTR enables high-quality research on the SPRINTR-Real observational study, addressing broad scientific questions about biomarkers for diagnostics, prognostics, and treatment prediction, as well as related issues related to quality of life and health economics.

One of SPRINTR's goals is to facilitate, streamline, and centralize efforts around clinical studies to support more extensive and improved Swedish clinical research on prostate cancer.

SPRINTR is a research platform for precision medicine that is building a study-ready population. Participants are followed through national registers and analysis results from clinical examinations, tissue, blood, and urine. Participants agree to be contacted for future studies, enabling efficient recruitment for both academic and industry-funded research.

Molecular profiling includes histological assessment and RNA/DNA sequencing of biopsies collected during the diagnostic work-up for prostate cancer. Clinical imaging examinations and digitised (scanned) histology slides are also stored as part of the study. Data are stored in a secure study database, while biological samples are stored in a regional biobank and coded in accordance with the Swedish Biobank Act.

Researchers interested in collaboration, data access, or initiating a study within SPRINTR can contact the PI for further information.