Focal therapy for prostate cancer

• Published in: Abdominal imaging Vol. 50; no. 2; pp. 757 - 769
• Main Authors: Basseri, Sana, Perlis, Nathan, Ghai, Sangeet
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.02.2025; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abdomen; Ablation; Ablation Techniques - methods; Biopsy; Cancer therapies; Contraindications; Erectile dysfunction; Gastroenterology; Health care networks; Hepatology; Humans; Imaging; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Morbidity; Oncology; Patients; Photodynamic therapy; Prostate cancer; Prostatectomy; Prostatic Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Prostatic Neoplasms - surgery; Prostatic Neoplasms - therapy; Radiation therapy; Radiology; Review; Side effects; Surveillance; Ultrasonic imaging; Urinary incontinence; Prostate cancer; Focal ablative therapy
• ISSN: 2366-0058; 2366-004X; 2366-0058
• DOI: 10.1007/s00261-024-04482-7

Traditional treatments for localized prostate cancer include radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy but pose challenges due to treatment related side effects, namely erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. In recent years, focal therapy has emerged as a viable treatment option for localized low-intermediate risk prostate cancer in carefully selected patients. Short and medium-term studies show acceptable cancer control outcomes and reduced morbidity when comparing focal therapy to whole gland treatment for prostate cancer, however there is paucity of long-term studies. Here we review focal ablative therapies commonly used, discuss the role of imaging in monitoring treatment, and summarize oncologic outcomes based on studies to date.