ASO Author Reflections: High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound will Become the Routine Practice for Treatment of Localized Prostate Cancer.

Abstract

PAST: Most prostate cancers are slow growing and are often diagnosed at an old age, which may result in treatment never being needed. However, definitive treatments such as radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy are often associated with many serious adverse effects, harming the physical and mental health of patients. PRESENT: In recent years, different types of minimally invasive therapy have been developed to achieve cancer control, continence, and even potency preservation, such as high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). HIFU has been proposed for prostate cancer patients to provide an equivalent oncologic result to definitive treatment, with a reduced adverse effect profile, thus increasing the interest in HIFU for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. FUTURE: Sonablate® HIFU performed an outstanding cancer control in treating localized prostate cancer, with low biochemical recurrence and complication rates. As further long-term follow-up data mature, we anticipate the routine application of HIFU for localized prostate cancer within the next few years.