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Irreversible Electroporation for the Ablation of Prostate Cancer

  • New Imaging Techniques (S Rais-Bahrami and K Porter, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Although still considered experimental, focal irreversible electroporation (IRE) as a primary treatment for prostate cancer (PCa) is considered one of the most promising ablative technologies for focal therapy. This review provides a description of the principle of IRE for the treatment of PCa, combined with an overview of the recent research.

Recent Findings

It has been almost a decade since the first human studies of focal IRE for PCa were trying to demonstrate its feasibility and safety, and recently new data are emerging regarding the functional and oncological outcomes. It was shown that the expected ablation efficacy of IRE is dependent on increased safety margins of > 9 mm and an uninterrupted IRE procedure, but these findings need further investigation in larger cohorts and randomized control trials (RCT).

Summary

Recent data from larger cohorts with a longer follow-up of up to 12 months prove that focal IRE as primary treatment for localized PCa is indeed safe, has effective short-term oncological control in selected patients, and it has good functional outcomes by retaining urinary function and causing only mild erectile dysfunction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Athens Euroclinic Hospital, 7-9 Athanasiadou & D. Soutsou str., 151 21, Athens, Greece

    Andreas Karagiannis

  2. Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Sismanogleio Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Sismanogleiou 1 str., 15126, Marousi, Athens, Greece

    John Varkarakis

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Correspondence to Andreas Karagiannis.

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Andreas Karagiannis and John Varkarakis each declares no potential conflicts of interest.

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Karagiannis, A., Varkarakis, J. Irreversible Electroporation for the Ablation of Prostate Cancer. Curr Urol Rep 20, 63 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-019-0929-x

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