Targeted Prostate Cancer Treatment Cuts Risk of Side Effects, Study Suggests

The latest study on focal therapy for prostate cancer has finally provided long-term data that medical regulators had been craving – and it’s a game-changer. The results show this targeted treatment is as effective as surgery or radiotherapy but with significantly fewer side effects.

Focal therapy, which uses high-intensity ultrasound or freezing cryotherapy to destroy cancerous tissue, has been around for over 20 years. Despite its promising potential, it gained traction in the UK only recently. The study, led by Imperial College London and involving nearly 3,500 men with intermediate or high-risk prostate cancer, found that after 10 years, only two had died from the disease.

The contrast between these outcomes and those of traditional treatments is striking. Surgery and radiotherapy can leave patients dealing with debilitating side effects like urine leakage and loss of sexual function – a fate shared by nearly half of all men who undergo these procedures. Focal therapy minimizes this risk significantly, offering hope for individual men as well as a national prostate cancer screening program.

Researchers are hailing the study as excellent, arguing it makes a compelling case for wider adoption. However, concerns about long-term survival have hampered the rollout of focal therapy. These anxieties appear largely unfounded in light of this new evidence. The health regulator NICE has been reluctant to greenlight focal therapy due to concerns about long-term data, limiting access to just 10 centers in England.

The government’s recent commitment of up to £2.8m to expand provision is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done. Campaigners like Prostate Cancer UK are calling on NICE to review the evidence and recognize focal therapy as a vital tool in the fight against prostate cancer. As Paul Sayer, founder of Prost8 UK, notes: “This research shouldn’t just change clinical practice – it should change conversations in every consulting room across the UK.” It’s time for that conversation to begin.

Reader Views

CM
Columnist M. Reid · opinion columnist
"This study's findings are a welcome relief for men with intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer, but what about those in low-risk categories? Focal therapy could be a viable option for them too, potentially avoiding unnecessary treatment and its associated side effects. The fact that only two patients out of nearly 3,500 have died from the disease after 10 years is staggering – it's time to shift focus towards widespread adoption, not just expansion of existing centers."
EK
Editor K. Wells · editor
The UK's sluggish adoption of focal therapy for prostate cancer is puzzling given its proven track record. While the study shows remarkable results in minimizing side effects, there's still a pressing need to address accessibility issues. The government's £2.8m investment is welcome, but more must be done to expand availability beyond just 10 centers. A crucial aspect to consider: how will this treatment integrate with existing NHS services, and what support systems will be put in place for patients undergoing focal therapy?
RJ
Reporter J. Avery · staff reporter
While the latest study's findings on focal therapy are undoubtedly promising, we shouldn't overlook the issue of unequal access to this treatment. The £2.8m government commitment is a step forward, but it won't be enough to address the shortage of specialists and facilities capable of delivering this targeted approach. Without broader roll-out and increased investment in training, many men with prostate cancer will continue to face the unacceptable choice between invasive treatments and uncertain outcomes.

Targeted prostate cancer treatment cuts risk of side effects

Targeted Prostate Cancer Treatment Cuts Risk of Side Effects, Study Suggests

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