Influence of the docetaxel administration period (neoadjuvant or concomitant) in relation to HIFU treatment on the growth of Dunning tumors: results of a preliminary study

The objective of this study was to evaluate mechanisms of the synergy between high intensity-focused ultrasound (HIFU) and docetaxel and to determine the best sequence of chemotherapy administration in relation to HIFU treatment for obtaining optimum control of tumoral growth. A total of 15 days after s.c. implantation of the tumor, 52 Copenhagen rats studied were randomized in 4 groups of 13: controls, docetaxel alone (group 1), HIFU and docetaxel concomitant (group 2) and HIFU and docetaxel administered 24 h before treatment (group 3). The number of HIFU shots was calculated in order to cover 75% of the tumor volume. The effects of docetaxel, HIFU and their interaction on tumor volumes were analyzed using a linear regression. The distributions of the tumor volumes were significantly greater in the control group than in the group 1 (P=0.002) and than in both groups 2 and 3 (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0001). These volumes were also significantly greater in group 1 than in both groups 2 and 3 and there was no difference between the groups 2 and 3. The tumor doubling times were 7.8 days for the group 1, 43.8 days for the group 2, 16.1 days for the group 3 and 5.9 days for the controls. The mechanism of the synergy between HIFU and docetaxel on the growth of Dunning tumors is apparently multifaceted. The results are encouraging because in the two groups of rats treated with the combination of HIFU and docetaxel, the percentage of complete remission was approximately 30%.     

高强度聚焦超声联合丝裂霉素治疗小鼠膀胱肿瘤的实验研究

目的　研究高强度聚焦超声 (HIFU)联合丝裂霉素对小鼠膀胱肿瘤的治疗作用和协同效应。　方法　制作小鼠膀胱肿瘤 (BTT739)皮下种植模型共 37只 ,随机分对照组、低剂量化疗组、高剂量化疗组、HIFU治疗组和HIFU联合化疗组。观察两周内种植瘤体积增长情况 ,计算肿瘤体积倍增时间 ,并作出生长曲线。摘除肿瘤瘤块进行病理学检查。　结果　HIFU联合化疗组对小鼠肿瘤的抑制作用优于单独化疗组和HIFU治疗组。病理学检查发现HIFU造成肿瘤组织大片凝固性坏死 ,肿瘤边缘及坏死区之间有少量活细胞残留 ,但凋亡细胞明显增多 ,增殖细胞核抗原 (PCNA)阳性率降低。　结论　HIFU和丝裂霉素联合治疗对小鼠肿瘤的抑制作用存在显著的协同效应 (P <0 0 1)。HIFU对小鼠肿瘤的抑制作用 ,除杀灭肿瘤细胞外 ,还发生肿瘤细胞凋亡现象。     

经直肠高强度聚焦超声系统治疗前列腺癌57例疗效分析

目的:探讨经直肠高强度聚焦超声系统(HIFU)治疗PCa的疗效。方法:使用Sonablate500型经直肠HIFU治疗系统,对57例PCa患者进行HIFU治疗,其中局限性PCa27例,晚期PCa30例。在确定生化复发之前,对局限性PCa仅行经直肠HIFU治疗;对于晚期PCa,在行经直肠HIFU治疗的同时,联合应用内分泌治疗。结果:HIFU治疗平均手术操作时间为111(86～153)min,平均术后住院时间为3.2(2～18)d。平均随访时间18(6～30)个月。局限性PCaHIFU治疗后,生化检查阴性率(PSA(4.0μg/L)在治疗后的1、2、3年分别为86%、81%和79%。30例晚期PCa治疗平均8个月(3～24个月)后,26例血清PSA<4.0μg/L(其中20例血清PSA<0.5μg/L)、21例患者前列腺体积缩小>50%。治疗后6个月时与治疗前相比,前列腺体积缩小、PSA水平降低、Qmax增加及IPSS改善差异均有显著性(P<0.05)。HIFU治疗后无严重尿道直肠瘘、尿失禁等并发症发生。结论:经直肠HIFU治疗PCa,安全、有效,并发症少,近期疗效较好,是一种可选择的PCa微创治疗方法。     

高强度聚焦超声联合低剂量放疗作为进展期前列腺癌内分泌治疗后补充治疗的有效性和安全性分析

本研究旨在评估高强度聚焦超声（high-intensity focused ultrasound,HIFU）联合（＋）低剂量外放疗（low—dose external beam radiotherapy,LRT）作为进展期前列腺癌内分泌治疗（hormonal therapy,HT）后补充治疗的有效性和安全性。我们定义的HIFU＋LRT是指采用HIFU治疗前列腺癌原发灶,取代前列腺及精囊区的缩野外放疗,而仅保留传统外放疗（conventional—dose external beam radiotherapy,CRT）中盆腔的四野照射。我们对进展期前列腺癌内分泌治疗后的120例患者进行了非随机的前瞻性对照研究,分别接受HIFU、CRT、HIFU＋LRT、和单纯HT治疗。CT／MRI影像学检查显示HIFU＋LRT治疗后原发肿瘤和盆腔淋巴结转移灶明显萎缩甚至消失。四组间的总体和疾病特异生存曲线（P=0．018和O．015）均存在显著差异。进一步行各组两两比较提示HIFU＋LRT组的长期疾病特异生存率高于其它3组,但HIFU＋LRT组与CRT组的差异无显著性。多因素COX比例风险模型证实HIFU＋LRT和CRT均单独和DSS相关（P=O．001和O．035）,对死亡风险有显著保护作用。与cRT比较,HIFU＋LRT能显著减少放疗相关的远期泌尿道及消化道II级或以上严重并发症的发生率。总而言之,进展期前列腺癌采用内分泌治疗后,进一步加强原发灶和区域淋巴结转移灶的治疗能有效提高患者的长期生存。作为替代常规剂量外放疗的选择之一,HIFU＋LRT显示了良好疗效和更高的安全性。     

The status of high-intensity focused ultrasound in the treatment of localized prostate cancer and the impact of a combined resection

To decrease side effects observed after high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment for localized prostate cancer and to re-establish normal micturition in a patient population that often presents with concomitant prostate enlargement, the impact of a combined transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and HIFU has been evaluated. TURP and HIFU treatments were performed under the same spinal anesthesia. For the HIFU treatments, the Ablatherm device (EDAP SA, Lyon, France) was used. Selection criteria for HIFU treatment were localized prostate cancer, no previous treatment for prostate cancer, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ≤ 15 ng/mL at diagnosis. All patients meeting these criteria were considered for treatment and analysis. PSA nadir and stability, histology, International Prostate Specific Score (IPSS) and IPSS-quality of life, and morbidity were assessed during follow-up; 271 patients were selected: 96 in the HIFU group and 175 in the TURP plus HIFU group. A statistically significant impact was observed on catheter time (40.0 days versus 7.0 in median), incontinence (15.4% versus 6.9%), urinary infection (47.9% versus 11.4%), and the evolution of the post-treatment IPSS (8.91 versus 3.37 in average) in favor of the TURP plus HIFU group. No significant changes were observed regarding efficacy during short-term follow-up when considering a 25% retreatment rate in the HIFU group versus a 4% retreatment rate in the TURP plus HIFU group. The combination of a TURP and HIFU treatment reduces the treatment-related morbidity significantly. The patient management after a combined TURP and HIFU treatment is comparable with the management after a single TURP.     

Transurethral resection of prostate just following high intensity focused ultrasound in localized prostate cancer--trial for early removal of the urethral catheter

We studied the impact of combined transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for localized prostate cancer (CaP) to decrease side effects such as prolonged urinary voiding disturbance observed after HIFU treatment. Included in this study were 18 patients with clinically localized CaP indicated for HIFU just followed by TURP (TUR combination group). Complete response was defined in accordance with ASTRO consensus statement and negative sample in biopsies performed 6 months after the HIFU treatment. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) nadir, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and morbidity during follow-up of TUR combination group were compared with those of a control of 18 patients who took HIFU treatment alone (HIFU monotherapy group). No statistical significances on the values of preoperative parameters (PSA, prostate volume, Gleason score, and IPSS) between these two groups. The median follow-up duration was 10 (5-15) months in both groups. A statistically significant impact was observed between TUR combination group and HIFU monotherapy group on median catheter time (5 versus 13 days, P<0.0001), PSA nadir (0.096 ng/ml versus 0.430 ng/ml in median, P<0.05) and the evolution of the post-treatment IPSS (8 versus 13.5 in median, P<0.0003) at 3 months after treatment. Urethral stricture necessary for urethral dilation was noted in 1 patient (5.6%) in the TUR combination group while in 2 (11.1%) in the HIFU monotherapy group. CR was obtained in 88.9% in the TUR combination group and 83.3% in the HIFU monotherapy group. Our study suggests that the combination of TURP with HIFU treatment improves posttreatment urinary status without additional morbidity.     

高能聚焦超声联合内分泌疗法治疗前列腺癌

目的: 探讨高能聚焦超声(HIFU)联合内分泌疗法治疗前列腺癌的疗效。　方法: 对 20例前列腺癌患者行HIFU+内分泌治疗,HIFU治疗采用FEP BY01型高能聚焦超声肿瘤治疗机;内分泌治疗采用手术去势 15例,药物去势(LHRH a)5例,其中 14例加用抗雄激素药物。随访时间 6~30个月,平均16. 5个月。　结果: 治疗前后前列腺体积分别为(36. 4± 16. 2)、(20. 6±11. 8)ml(P<0. 05);血清前列腺特异性抗原值为 (32. 2±10. 4)、(2. 4±0. 8)μg/L(P<0. 01);国际前列腺症状评分为 (20. 5±6. 5)、(13. 6±7. 5 )分 (P<0. 05 );最大尿流率为 ( 10. 6±6. 3)、(14. 2±4. 6)ml/s(P<0. 05 )。HIFU治疗并发症:轻度血尿 5例,局部疼痛 8例,尿道狭窄 1例。　结论:HIFU联合内分泌疗法治疗前列腺癌并发症少,近期疗效较好。     

Transurethral resection of the prostate immediately after high‐intensity focused ultrasound treatment for prostate cancer

Objectives: To evaluate the long‐term outcomes of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) immediately after high‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment for prostate cancer (CaP). Methods: The present retrospective study included 65 CaP patients who underwent HIFU alone and 64 patients who underwent TURP immediately after HIFU. HIFU treatment was carried out using a Sonablate‐500 HIFU device (Focus Surgery, Indianapolis, IN, USA). International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the occurrence of urinary complications, such as urethral stricture during follow‐up, were statistically compared between groups. Results: Clinical stage tended to be lower for the HIFU + TURP group (P = 0.0311), but none of the preoperative parameters differed significantly between groups. Both catheterization time (P < 0.0001) and post‐treatment IPSS (P < 0.0001) at 6, 12, and 24 months after treatment differed significantly between groups. Urethral strictures were noted in 16 (24.6%) of the HIFU‐only patients and seven (10.9%) of the HIFU + TURP patients. Bladder neck contracture was noted in 11 (68.8%) of the patients with urethral stricture in the HIFU‐only group, but in just two (28.6%) of the patients with urethral stricture in the HIFU + TURP group. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that TURP resection volume (P = 0.0118) was a strong factor for the prevention of urethral stricture. Conclusions: Our results suggest that combining HIFU with an immediately following TURP improves post‐treatment urinary status without causing additional morbidity.     

MRI appearance of prostate following transrectal HIFU ablation of localized cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the accuracy of gadolinium-enhanced MRI in gauging the extent of the tissue damage induced by transrectal high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy and to assess how well the results obtained with this modality correlate with histological findings (control biopsies). METHODS: Twenty-one patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer (T1-T2-T3a, Nx, M0) who gave informed consent were included in the protocol. They underwent pre- and postoperative (2-5 days after HIFU treatment) MR examinations. Fifteen patients also underwent a follow-up MR examination 1-5 months postoperatively. MR findings were compared with the results of postoperative transrectal biopsy examinations. RESULTS: The prostate volume increased after the HIFU session from 43.9+/-18.6 to 52.1+/-21 cm(3) by day 2 (p<0.001). On fat-saturated gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted images, the treated area appeared as a hypointense zone surrounded by a peripheral rim of enhancement in all patients. A positive correlation (r = 0.75) was found between the volume of the hypointense zone measured at days 2-5 (30+/-11 cm(3), 67% of the posttreatment prostate volume) and the theoretical target volume (22+/-5 cm(3), 61% of the initial prostate volume). MRI showed that the anterior part of the base was not reached by the ultrasound beam. The mean volume of the untreated zone (prostate without any MRI modifications) was 8 cm(3) (range, 0.4-36). No correlation was found between the MRI appearance of the treated area and the intensity of the necrosis or the presence of foci of residual, viable cancer. CONCLUSION: Gadolinium-enhanced MRI is an accurate way of determining the extent of tissue damage induced in HIFU ablative therapy, but cannot predict histological results.     

Anti-interleukin-6 monoclonal antibody induces regression of human prostate cancer xenografts in nude mice

BACKGROUND: Despite clinical associations and in vitro data suggesting that autocrine interleukin-6 (IL-6) production contributes to prostate cancer progression or chemotherapy resistance, there have been no reports that explore the role of IL-6 on prostate tumors in vivo. In the present study, we investigated the effect of IL-6 inhibition on the growth of human prostate cancer xenografts in nude mice. METHODS: To determine if autocrine IL-6 production contributes to prostate cancer growth and chemotherapy resistance in vivo, xenografts of a human prostate cancer cell line that produces IL-6 (PC-3) were established in nude mice. The mice were randomly divided into four treatment groups: (1) saline (vehicle control) + murine IgG (isotype control); (2) etoposide + murine IgG; (3) saline + anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody; and (4) etoposide + anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody. Tumors were measured twice weekly during a 4-week treatment period. At the conclusion of the study, all mice were sacrificed, and in addition to final volume, tumors were evaluated for the degree of apoptosis by TUNEL analysis. RESULTS: Anti-IL-6 Ab (with saline or etoposide) induced tumor apoptosis and regression ( approximately 60% compared to initial tumor size). Etoposide alone did not induce tumor regression or apoptosis in this animal model, and there was no synergy between anti-IL-6 Ab and etoposide. CONCLUSIONS: These studies suggest that IL-6 contributes to prostate cancer growth in vivo, and that targeting IL-6 may contribute to prostate cancer therapy.     

High-intensity focused ultrasound and localized prostate cancer: efficacy results from the European multicentric study

PURPOSE: To describe the safety and efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for the treatment of prostate cancer as assessed in a Phase II/III prospective multicentric clinical trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients (N = 402) presenting with localized (stage T(1-2)N(0-x)M(0)) prostate cancer between 1995 and 1999 at six European sites who were not candidates for radical prostatectomy were treated with HIFU under general or spinal anesthesia. Their mean age was 69.3 +/- 7.1 (SD) years, the mean prostate volume 28.0 +/- 13.8 cc, and the mean serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) concentration 10.9 +/- 8.7 ng/mL. Nearly all (92.2%) of the patients had one to four positive biopsy samples at baseline. The Gleason scores were 2 to 4 for 13.2% of the patients, 5 to 7 for 77.5%, and 8 to 10 for 9.3%. During the follow-up, random sextant biopsies and serum PSA measurements were performed. Any positive sample in biopsies performed after the last treatment session resulted in a "HIFU failure" classification. RESULTS: The patients received a mean of 1.4 HIFU sessions. The mean follow-up duration was 407 days (quartile 1 135 days, median 321 days, quartile 3 598 days). The negative biopsy rate observed in the T1-2 primary-care population was 87.2%. These results were also stratified according to the usual disease-related risk classification, and as much as a 92.1% negative biopsy rate was observed in low-risk patients. Nadir PSA results correlated with prostate size and the clinical procedure. CONCLUSION: These short-term results obtained on a large cohort confirm that HIFU is an option to be considered for the primary treatment of localized prostate cancer.     

Transrectal high‐intensity focused ultrasound for treatment of localized prostate cancer

Objectives: To assess the long‐term outcomes of transrectal high‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for patients with localized prostate cancer. Methods: From May 2003 to present, 137 consecutive patients with T1‐2 prostate cancer were treated using the Sonablate 500 and then followed for more than 12 months after their last HIFU treatment. A prostate biopsy was routinely carried out at 6 months and serum prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) was measured every 3 months after HIFU. Oncological outcomes as well as treatment‐related complications were assessed. Disease‐free survival (DFS) was judged using the Phoenix definition (PSA nadir + 2 ng/mL), negative histological findings and no local or distant metastasis. Results: The median follow up after HIFU was 36 months (range 12–84 months). No patients received adjuvant therapy during this period. The PSA nadir occurred at 2 months after HIFU and the median level was 0.07 ng/mL (0.01–2.01 ng/mL). Of the 133 patients who underwent prostate biopsy or transurethral resection of the prostate at 6 months or later after HIFU, six were positive for cancer cells (4.5%). There were no major postoperative complications, but urge incontinence (16 cases) and dysuria (33 cases) occurred after removal of the urethral catheter. The 5‐year DFS rate was 78% based on these criteria, and 91%, 81% and 62% in the low‐, intermediate‐ and high‐risk group, respectively. Conclusions: HIFU represents an effective, repeatable and minimally invasive treatment. It is particularly effective for low‐ and intermediate‐risk patients, and it should be considered as an option for localized prostate cancer.     

Androgen stimulated chemotherapy in the dunning R-3327 prostatic adenocarcinoma

Summary This study was undertaken to determine whether hormonal stimulation followed by chemotherapy with a cell-cycle specific agent would improve the effectiveness of the chemotherapy in a prostatic adenocarcinoma model.One hundred Copenhagen rats were randomised into 5 equal groups and injected subcutaneously with 2×10⁷ cells of Dunning G strain prostatic adenocarcinoma. The groups were treated in the following fashion: 1. sham operated controls, 2. castration, 3. castration and methotrexate, 4. castration, testosterone and methotrexate and 5. castration and testosterone. When the tumours became palpable, all animals received the surgery to which they were randomised. Subsequent hormonal and chemotherapy was started 1 week thereafter. Therapy was given for 5 consecutive days followed by a 16-day recovery period and then continued in a cyclical fashion. Serial measurements of animal weights and tumour size were obtained. Analysis of tumour growth was restricted to the first 29 days of therapy because of a rapid decline in animal survival beyond that point.The group treated with castration, testosterone, and methotrexate inhibited tumour growth more than any other group and was the only group that was significantly different from control (P<0.05).Dr. Grossman is a Ferdinand C. Valentine Fellow of the Section of Urology, New York Academy of Medicine     

平均血小板体积、血小板分布宽度联合前列腺特异抗原对前列腺癌的诊断价值

目的 探讨平均血小板体积(MPV)、血小板分布宽度(PDW)和前列腺特异抗原(PSA)对前列腺癌的诊断价值.方法 选取2013年1月至2018年1月本院收治的前列腺癌患者150例(PCa组),选取同期在本院体检的健康人群150例作为对照组.比较两组临床生化指标,分析前列腺癌患者术前PDW和MPV与临床病理特征的相关性,...     

The effect of radiation therapy and hyperthermia on a human prostatic carcinoma cell line grown in athymic nude mice

The effect of radiation and/or hyperthermia on a human prostatic carcinoma xenograft in athymic nude mice was investigated. A human prostate carcinoma subline (1-LN-PC-3-1A) was inoculated subcutaneously in the thigh of male athymic nude mice. When tumors reached a size of approximately 200 mm.3, they were treated with either radiation (X) or hyperthermia (H) alone, or in combination (X + H). In the combined treatment, hyperthermia was delivered immediately after radiation exposure. Comparison of the time required to reach twice the tumor volume observed at the time of treatment was used to define therapeutic impact on tumor growth. The combined treatment resulted in median tumor volume doubling time of 35.5 days, compared to 18 days and 25.5 days, respectively, for hyperthermia or radiation alone. Analysis of tumor doubling time using a proportional hazards regression indicates that under the conditions of this experiment, the effect of radiation and hyperthermia for 1-LN-PC-3-1A tumors is additive. The impact of this treatment regimen in the management of prostatic cancer requires further investigation.     

Control of prostate cancer by transrectal HIFU in 227 patients

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment of localized prostate cancer with reference to disease-related prognostic factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with T1-2 localized prostate cancers, prostate specific antigen (PSA) 1 ng/ml with three consecutive rises. RESULTS: The study included 227 patients. Mean follow-up was 27+/-20 months (12-121 months). Eighty-six percent had negative control biopsies. Median nadir PSA was 0.10 ng/ml. The actuarial 5-year disease-free survival rate (DFSR), combining pathologic and biochemical outcomes, was 66%. DFSR showed a significant decrease when stratified according to initial PSA level: 90% with PSA 相似文献   

Transrectal high-intensity focused ultrasound: minimally invasive therapy of localized prostate cancer

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Criteria for determining the durability of the response to transrectal high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation of prostate cancer have been established by calculating progression-free probability. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A series of 82 patients (mean age 71 +/- 5.7 years) with biopsy-proven localized (stage T1-T2) cancer who were not suitable candidates for radical surgery underwent transfectal HIFU ablation with the Ablatherm machine. The mean follow-up was 17.6 months (range 3-68 months). The mean serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) value and mean prostate volume were 8.11 +/- 4.64 ng/mL and 34.9 +/- 17.4 cm3, respectively. Progression was rigidly defined as any positive biopsy result, regardless of PSA concentration, or three successive PSA increases for patients with a negative biopsy (PSA velocity > or = 0.75). Times to specific events (positive biopsy and PSA elevation) were analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier survival method. RESULTS: Overall, 62% of the patients exhibited no evidence of disease progression 60 months after transrectal HIFU ablation. In particular, the disease-free rate was 68% for the moderate-risk group of 50 patients (PSA < 15.0 ng/mL, Gleason sum < 8, prostate volume < 40 cm3, and number of positive biopsies < 5). For the low-risk group of 32 patients (PSA < 10 ng/mL and Gleason sum < 7), the disease-free survival rate was 83%. CONCLUSION: Transrectal HIFU prostate ablation is an effective therapeutic alternative for patients with localized prostatic adenocarcinoma.     

海扶刀联合吉西他滨在中晚期胰腺癌治疗中的应用

[摘 要] 目的 探究采用高强度聚焦超声联合吉西他滨治疗中晚期胰腺癌的效果及安全性。方法 将2012年6月至2017年6月间郑州大学第一附属医院诊治的165例中晚期胰腺癌患者随机分为高强度聚焦超声联合静脉滴注吉西他滨治疗组（联合组,92例）和吉西他滨治疗组（化疗组,73例）。对比两组患者治疗2个月后的疼痛缓解率、外周血CA19-9水平、肿瘤体积变化、并发症的发生情况以及治疗后3、6个月的生存率。结果 治疗两个月后,联合组患者疼痛缓解率明显高于化疗组（94.4% vs 21.1%）;联合组治疗2个月后VAS评分[（2.7±3.2）vs（6.2±2.8）]及CA19-9水平[（204.6±195.6）U/mL vs（537.2±274.5）U/mL]明显下降（P<0.05）;肿瘤体积[（20.13±13.25）cm 3 vs （33.45±13.68） cm 3 ]明显缩小（P<0.05）。治疗3个月后,联合组生存率为97.6%,化疗组生存率为94.3%,两组对比无统计学差异（P>0.05）;治疗6个月后,联合组生存率为69.5%,化疗组生存率为24.3%,两组对比有统计学差异（P<0.05）。联合组患者均未出现胃肠道穿孔、胰瘘和出血等HIFU治疗并发症。结论 高强度聚焦超声联合吉西他滨治疗中晚期胰腺癌可明显缩小肿瘤体积,减轻患者的疼痛症状,且并发症少,有效改善生活质量,延长患者的生存期。     

Single application of high‐intensity focused ultrasound as a first‐line therapy for clinically localized prostate cancer: 5‐year outcomes

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? High‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy has been proposed for the treatment of localized prostate cancer (PCa) for all risk levels of tumour recurrence. The study adds data on the efficacy of a single HIFU application in the treatment of PCa with different risks of recurrence. Durable cancer control was achieved in 81.7% of patients with low‐risk disease, with rates of efficacy declining in intermediate‐ and high‐risk tumours. The data suggest that the principal domain for minimal invasive HIFU should be low‐risk disease.

OBJECTIVE

• ? To report cancer control results after a single application of high‐intensity focused ultrasonography (HIFU) in patients with localized prostate cancer (PCa), stratified by tumour recurrence risk according to D'Amico risk classification.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• ? In a retrospective single‐centre study, we analysed the outcomes of patients with localized PCa who were treated with curative intent between December 2002 and October 2006 using an Ablatherm HIFU device (EDAP‐TMS, France).
• ? Transurethral resection of the prostate or adenomectomy were performed before HIFU to downsize large prostate glands.
• ? Oncological failure was determined by the occurrence of biochemical relapse, positive biopsy and/or metastasis. Biochemical relapse was defined as a PSA nadir +1.2 ng/mL (Stuttgart definition), or as a rise in PSA level to ≥0.5 ng/mL if PSA doubling time was ≤6 months. Kaplan–Meier analysis was performed for survival estimates.

RESULTS

• ? A total of 191 consecutive patients were included in the study. The median (range) patient age was 69.7 (51–82) years, and 38, 34 and 28% of these patients were in the low‐, intermediate‐ and high‐risk groups, respectively.
• ? The median (range) follow‐up was 52.8 (0.2–79.8) months.
• ? At 5 years, overall and cancer‐specific survival rates were 86.3% and 98.4%, respectively.
• ? Stratified by risk group, negative biopsy rates were 84.2%, 63.6%, and 67.5% (P = 0.032), 5‐year biochemical‐free survival rates were 84.8%, 64.9% and 54.9% (P < 0.01), and 5‐year disease‐free survival rates were 81.7%, 53.2% and 51.2% (P < 0.01), respectively.

CONCLUSION

• ? Single‐session HIFU is recommended as a curative approach in elderly patients with low‐risk PCa. Patients at higher risk of tumour progression should be counselled regarding the likely need for salvage therapy, including repeat HIFU.