Focal therapy (FT) may offer a promising treatment option in the field of low to intermediate risk localized prostate cancer. The aim of this concept is to combine minimal morbidity with cancer control as well as maintain the possibility of retreatment. Recent advances in MRI and targeted biopsy has improved the diagnostic pathway of prostate cancer and increased the interest in FT. However, before implementation of FT in routine clinical practice, several challenges are still to overcome including patient selection, treatment planning, post-therapy monitoring and definition of oncologic outcome surrogates. In this article, relevant questions regarding the key steps of FT are critically discussed and the main available energy modalities are analyzed taking into account their advantages and unmet needs.
Future oncology (London, England). 2016 Jan 24 [Epub ahead of print]
Adil Ouzzane, Nacim Betrouni, Massimo Valerio, Ardeshir Rastinehad, Pierre Colin, Guillaume Ploussard
Department of Urology, CHRU de Lille, Hôpital Claude Huriez, F-59037 Lille, France., NSERM, U1189, ONCO-THAI, F-59037 Lille, France., Department of Urology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland., Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, New York, NY, USA., Department of Urology, Hôpital Privé de la Louvière, Ramsay Générale de Santé, 59000 Lille, France., Institut universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse - Oncopole, Toulouse, France.