A major NHS study found that focal therapy is as effective as radiotherapy or surgery for treating prostate cancer while causing fewer side effects.
This finding suggests a shift in how clinicians may approach prostate cancer, offering patients a way to maintain a higher quality of life by avoiding the systemic damage often associated with traditional invasive procedures.
The focal therapy approach targets only the cancerous portion of the prostate using high-intensity ultrasound or cryotherapy. By sparing healthy tissue, the method reduces the risk of complications that typically follow full-organ radiation or surgical removal.
Researchers conducted the trial across NHS hospitals in the United Kingdom. The study followed nearly 3,500 men [1] over a period of 10 years [2]. The results, published in July 2024 [3], indicate that the targeted approach does not sacrifice patient outcomes for the sake of comfort.
"The treatment is as effective as radiotherapy and surgery but with fewer side effects," study authors said.
Traditional treatments often impact surrounding nerves and tissues, leading to significant long-term morbidity. A study spokesperson said focal therapy cuts the risk of side effects compared with traditional surgery.
Because the treatment is localized, it avoids the broader trauma of traditional surgery. This allows patients to recover more quickly, and avoid the most common complications associated with prostatectomy or whole-gland radiation.
“The treatment is as effective as radiotherapy and surgery but with fewer side effects.”
The validation of focal therapy through a decade-long trial provides a clinical basis for moving away from 'one-size-fits-all' prostate cancer treatments. By proving that targeted destruction of tumors via ultrasound or cryotherapy matches the efficacy of more aggressive surgeries, the medical community can now prioritize organ preservation and a reduction in permanent side effects for eligible patients.
