Focal Therapy Promising In Low Risk Prostate Cancer Patients

Focal therapy for prostate cancer is a promising and emerging treatment strategy for men with a low risk of cancer progression, new study shows.

Despite widespread skepticism as to the utility of the prostate specific antigen (PSA) count as a reliable tool for deciding on treatment, the world over there is no stopping the PSA-based approach.

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This cancer affects men over the age of 50 years and screening with rectal examination and PSA can help both in early detection and effective treatment

But then those diagnosed with prostate cancer have well differentiated, low-volume tumours at minimal risk of impacting their quality of life or longevity, experts say. The selection of a treatment strategy, among the multitude of options, has enormous implications for individuals and health care systems.

Some patients might be uncomfortable with observational strategies yet highly concerned about the risks of whole-gland treatment. To reassure such persons a hybrid approach, termed focal therapy, has been evolved.

The technique aims to eradicate known cancer foci with the highest likelihood of progressing or metastasizing while attempting to diminish collateral damage to the vital structures essential for maintaining normal urinary and sexual function.

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Limitations of focal therapy include the inability to stage or grade the cancer(s) accurately, suboptimal imaging capabilities, uncertainty regarding the natural history of untreated cancer foci, challenges with post-treatment monitoring, and the lack of quality-of-life data compared with alternative treatment strategies.

The aim of the present study was to review the rationale, patient selection criteria, diagnostic imaging, biopsy schemes, and treatment modalities available for the focal therapy of localized prostate cancer.

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A National Center for Biotechnology Information PubMed search (www.pubmed.gov) was performed from 1995 to 2009 using medical subject headings ''focal therapy'' or ''ablative'' and ''prostate cancer'.' Additional articles were extracted based on recommendations from an expert panel of authors.

One of the conclusions of the study is that focal therapy could indeed be promising.

However, evaluation in formal prospective clinical trials is essential before this new strategy is accepted in clinical practice.

The study titled Focal Therapy for Prostate Cancer: Possibilities and Limitations has been published In the July issue of European Urology, the scientific journal of the European Association of Urology (EAU).

Source-Medindia
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