Outcomes and toxicities in patients treated with definitive focal therapy for primary prostate cancer: systematic review

This systematic review summarizes the clinical data on focal therapy (FT) when used alone as definitive therapy for primary prostate cancer (PCa).

The protocol is detailed in the online PROSPERO database, registration No. CRD42014014765. Articles evaluating any form of FT alone as a definitive treatment for PCa in adult male patients were included.

Of 10,419 identified articles, 10,401 were excluded, and thus leaving 18 for analysis. In total, 2288 patients were treated using seven modalities. The outcomes of FT in PCa seem to be similar to those observed with whole gland therapy and with fewer side effects.

Further research, including prospective randomized trials, is warranted to elucidate the potential advantages of focal radiation techniques for treating PCa. Prospero Registration Number: CRD42014014765.

Future oncology (London, England). 2016 Nov 04 [Epub ahead of print]

Atallah Baydoun, Bryan Traughber, Nathan Morris, Michella Abi Zeid Daou, Michael McGraw, Tarun K Podder, Raymond F Muzic, Simon S Lo, Lee E Ponsky, Mitchell Machtay, Rodney Ellis

Department of Internal Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA., Department of Radiation Oncology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA., Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA., Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon., Cleveland Health Sciences Library, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA., Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA., Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA., Department of Urology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.