High-intensity focused ultrasound that is effective in treating prostate cancer

According to a study published in, short-term results of localized high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation of the prostate show safety, superior efficacy, and maintenance of incontinence in patients with localized prostate cancer, as well as appropriate short-term prostate cancer. Suggests control. Urology journal..

Focused HIFU ablation is an outpatient treatment that uses a focused ultrasound beam to raise the temperature inside the prostate to about 194 degrees Fahrenheit, destroying the target area of ​​the prostate tissue. The procedure takes about 2 hours and patients are often discharged home on the same day.

“This positive data will enable urologists to use topical HIFU ablation to effectively treat prostate cancer without the essential side effects of curative treatment,” the USC of Medicine said in a press release. Said in. “We hope that this study will ensure that prostate cancer patients discuss all potential treatment options with their physicians and receive personalized care plans tailored to their individual needs.”

In this study, researchers evaluated 100 consecutive men in the United States who underwent the HIFU procedure from December 2015 to December 2019. IIEF (International Erectile Function Index), I-PSS (International Prostate Symptom Score), and 90-day complications are all reported.

At the start of the study, patients were grouped by prostate cancer risk, very low (8%), low (20%), moderately favorable (50%), moderately unfavorable (17%), and high. It included (5%) risk of prostate cancer. The median follow-up was 20 months. The main endpoint was treatment failure.

During follow-up, 91% of patients who received HIFU successfully avoided the underlying treatment. In addition, 73% of patients did not experience treatment failure. It was defined as clinically significant cancer recurrence, metastasis, or mortality, or the need for additional hormone therapy, chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation.

Notably, bilateral prostate cancer at diagnosis was the only predictor of grade 2 or higher recurrence (P = .03). Of the 58 men who underwent post-treatment biopsy, 10 were in the field and 8 were positive for field grade group 2 or higher biopsy. In addition, incontinence was defined as not requiring a pad and was maintained in 100% of patients. The median IIEF-5 and I-PSS scores before and after HemiGrand HIFU were 22:21 (22:21).P = .99) and 9 to 6 (P = .005), respectively.

Importantly, mild and severe complications were observed in 13% and 0% of patients. Minor complications, including problems with urination and urinary tract infections, were also addressed without major intervention. In addition, no patient had a rectal fistula or died.

Eventually, study participants were usually discharged on the same day as their procedure and soon resumed normal activity.

In particular, HIFU ablation has been used by urologists around the world for many years to treat prostate cancer patients. However, this technology was only approved by the FDA in 2015 for prostatectomy.

reference:

1. Abreu AL, Peretsman S, Iwata A, etc. High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Hemiland Ablation for Prostate Cancer: Initial Results of US Series. Urology journal.. Doi: 10.1097 / JU.0000000000001126

2. Innovative and minimally invasive treatments help maintain quality of life for prostate cancer patients [news release].. USC Keck Medicine. Released on September 8, 2020. Accessed on September 9, 2020. https: //news.keckmedicine.org/hifu-can-help-maintain-prostate-cancer-patients-quality-of-life/