The current role of high-intensity focused ultrasound for the management of radiation-recurrent prostate cancer

Abstract

The standard treatment options for organ-confined prostate cancer are radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy. A number of minimally invasive new technologies have also recently emerged. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is considered to be one of the most promising alternative therapies for prostate cancer. The indications for HIFU have recently been expanded to include its use both as a primary therapy for organ-confined prostate cancer as well as for local recurrence of prostate cancer, following radiation therapy. Although experience with the use of HIFU in the salvage setting following failed radiation therapy is limited, there is evidence to support the concept that HIFU offers comparable oncological outcomes to other established salvage treatment options for radiation-recurrent prostate cancer, with potentially less side effects. HIFU should be regarded as a viable alternative, especially for low-to-intermediate-risk cases of radiation-recurrent prostate cancer.

Keywords::

• high-intensity focused ultrasound
• local recurrence
• prostate cancer
• radiation

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Notes

AP: Anterior–posterior; ASA: American Society of Anesthesiologists; HIFU: High-intensity focused ultrasound; INR: International normalized ratio; PSA: Prostate specific antigen; RTOG/EORTC: Radiation Therapy Oncology Group/ European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer; TRUS: Transrectal ultrasound.