Prostate cancer

Prostate Cancer classification

Surgery (radical prostatectomy)
The whole prostate is removed with the seminal vesicles (which produce semen), the connected canals (which carry the sperm), part of the neck of the bladder and the surrounding lymph nodes. Surgery requires a general anesthesia and lasts about three to four hours.

External radiotherapy (radiation therapy or EBRT)
This treatment involves the use of radiation (very high energy rays) directed at the prostate gland to kill cancerous cells. Radiotherapy does not require anesthesia and treatment is generally given during regular sessions over several weeks.

Brachytherapy
This treatment involves the implantation of tiny radioactive seeds directly into the prostate gland to irradiate and destroy the cancer cells.

Cryotherapy
Guided by ultrasound, the prostate gland is frozen solid killing the cancerous cells. The procedure is done under anesthesia and requires at least an overnight stay in hospital.

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound
High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) is a non-invasive treatment for localized prostate cancer. Ultrasound waves are focused with extreme precision instantly and effectively destroying the targeted cancerous cells in the prostate. The treatment lasts one to three hours and can be performed under general or spinal anesthesia.

• First-line treatment of T1-T2 patients who are not suitable or do not want surgery
• Salvage treatment for local recurrence after Radiotherapy or radical prostatectomy
• Focal treatment of a well localized/well defined tumor in both first-line and salvage strategy

• Efficiency : the literature published since 2000 - year of Ablatherm® HIFU CE marking - shows reproducible and consistent results with long term survival results comparable to the standard treatment of Prostate Cancer
• Salvage HIFU shows promising local control with 80% negative biopsies combined with good specific survival rate at 5 years: 78% and 49.5% for low and intermediate-risk patients, respectively.
• Quality of life: a literature analysis since 2000 demonstrates that HIFU is an excellent tool for preserving quality of life with low morbidity and few side effects.

2013: Evolution and Outcomes of 3 MHz High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Therapy for Localized Prostate Cancer During 15 Years
Stefan Thüroff and Christian Chaussy - 2013 The Journal of Urology
"The results in 704 patients show that HIFU offers men with localized PCa a standardized reliable therapy with a low rate of perioperative comorbidity, an absence of serious morbidity and sufficient cancer control such that salvage therapy was not required at 10-year followup by 99%, 72% and 68% of low, intermediate and high risk patients, respectively, which is particularly important from a patient centered perspective. PSA nadir was demonstrated to be the greatest predictor of biochemical failure and the median PSA nadir has been 0.1ng/ml or less since 2000. PSA velocity was less than 0.1ng/ml but not zero, resulting in a slow increase to a PSA of 0.29 ng/ml at 5 years. The 95% metastasis-free survival rate at 10 years excludes TURP as a factor in metastatic spread in patients with localized prostate cancer and represents the first published data to our knowledge that empirically refute this long held assumption. Combined with TUR, HIFU can provide low invasive complete local tumor ablation, substituting surgery/cryotherapy or postponing radiation therapy or/and long-term ADT in elderly patients. The presented data of 10-year outcomes may warrant the possible closing of the investigational phase of HIFU."

2013: Fourteen-year oncological and functional outcomes of high-intensity focused ultrasound in localized prostate cancer
Roman Ganzer et al - 2013 BJU International
"In conclusion, we report on a large consecutive patient series after primary HIFU for clinically localized PCa with the longest follow-up in current literature. Our results improve the understanding of the oncological efficacy, morbidity and side effects of primary HIFU. The study underlines that HIFU is a therapeutic option for patients of advanced age, at low-to-intermediate risk and with a life expectancy of ~10 years. The rate of serious side effects such as recto-urethral fistulae is low."

2012: Complete high-intensity focused ultrasound in prostate cancer: outcome from the @-Registry
Andreas Blana et al – Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases
"Complete prostate-gland HIFU as primary monotherapy for localized prostate cancer is effective oncologically in a subset of patients with small prostate as measured by post-therapy prostate biopsy and serum PSA endpoints. In this study, HIFU is equally efficacious for all the grades of prostate cancer on short-term follow-up. Careful evaluation of long-term HIFU efficacy is needed and should be compared with established therapies with a complete HIFU approach to allow the most accurate evaluation of this promising and novel technology."

2012: Single-session primary high-intensity focused ultrasonography treatment for localized prostate cancer: biochemical outcomes using third generation-based technology.
Jehonathan H. Pinthus et al – BJU International
"In conclusion, 4-year oncological efficacy of single-session primary HIFU is promising in patients with low- and intermediate-risk PC. Most cases of BCF occur in the first 2 years and are progressively less common thereafter within the timeline of study. Patients with low- and intermediate-risk PC who achieve a PSA nadir < 0.5 ng/mL have excellent 4-year biochemical failure free progression after a single session of primary HIFU therapy. A prostate volume < 30 mL is associated with PSA nadir levels of < 0.5 ng/mL which raises the question of whether planned pretreatment prostate volume reduction (medically or surgically) should be considered in larger prostates."

2012: Single application of high-intensity focused ultrasound as a first-line therapy for clinically localized prostate cancer: 5-year outcomes.
Dietrich Pfeiffer et al – BJU International
"Single-session HIFU is recommended as a curative approach in elderly patients with low-risk PCa. Patients at higher risk of tumor progression should be counseled regarding the likely need for salvage therapy, including repeat HIFU."

2011: Correlation of prostate-specific antigen nadir and biochemical failure after High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound of localized prostate cancer based on the Stuttgart failure criteria – analysis from the @-Registry.
Roman Ganzer et al – BJU International
"This multicentre analysis confirms that PSA nadir after HIFU predicts biochemical DFSR in a statistically significant manner."

2010: Multicentric Oncologic Outcomes of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Localized Prostate Cancer in 803 Patients
Sebastien Crouzet et al. – European Urology
"Local control and DFSR achieved with HIFU were similar to those expected with conformal external-beam radiation therapy(EBRT).The excellent cancer-specific survival rate is also explained by the possibility to repeat HIFU and use salvage EBRT."

2008 : First Analysis of the Long-Term Results with Transrectal HIFU in Patients with Localised Prostate Cancer
Andreas Blana et al. – European Urology
"This study demonstrates the effective long-term cancer control achieved using HIFU in patients with low- or intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer. We believed HIFU provides a potential treatment option for localized prostate cancer in patients who are not eligible for surgery. The additional benefit of a favorable morbidity profile should persuade clinicians to consider more patients for this curative option, which is, in our opinion, a valid alternative to radiotherapy."

2006: Short-term outcome after high-intensity focused ultrasound in the treatment of patients with high-risk prostate cancer
Vincenzo Ficarra et al. – BJU International
"HIFU is a minimally invasive therapy for prostate cancer often used in selected patients with localized disease. The present results showed that HIFU combined with adjuvant pharmacological castration was feasible also in patients with high-risk prostate cancer. The low complication rates, favorable functional outcome and particularly the promising preliminary oncological data support the planning of further larger studies in such patients. The oncological efficacy of the present protocol should be assessed in further studies with more patients and a longer follow-up."

2006: Control of Prostate Cancer by Transrectal HIFU in 227 Patients
Laura Poissonnier et al. – Eur Urol.
"Transrectal HIFU is a minimally invasive therapy that control localized prostate cancer locally in 86% of the cases. This therapy provided disease control in 66% of the patients with clinically confined prostate cancer. Early feedback on treatment efficacy was gained by using nadir PSA (obtained within 4 months) and random control biopsies."

2004: High Intensity Focused Ultrasound for the Treatment of Localized Prostate Cancer: 5-year Experience
A. Blana et al. – Urology
"Our results demonstrated the efficacy and low-associated morbidity of HIFU. HIFU does not exclude other treatment options and is repeatable. HIFU seems to be a valid alternative treatment for patients who are not suitable for radical surgery."

2003: High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound and Localized Prostate Cancer: Efficacy Results from the European Multicentric Study
S. Thüroff et al. – Journal of Endourology
"These short-term results obtained on a large cohort confirm that HIFU is an option to be considered for the primary treatment oflocalized prostate cancer."

2001: Transrectal High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound for the Treatment of Localized Prostate Cancer: Factors Influencing the Outcome
A. Gelet et al. – European Urology
"Results observed after HIFU treatment in localized prostate cancer are now challenging those obtained after radiation therapy. The success rate is influenced by disease-related prognostic factors."

2015: A prospective clinical trial of HIFU hemiablation for clinically localized prostate cancer
Van Velthoven R et al. – Prostate Cancer and Prostatic diseases

2014: Primary Zonal High Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Prostate Cancer: Results of a Prospective Phase IIa Feasibility Study
Van Velthoven R et al. – Prostate Cancer

2014: Hemi salvage high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in unilateral radio-recurrent prostate cancer: a prospective two-centre study
Baco E et al. – BJU International
"In conclusion, Hemi Salvage HIFU in patients with unilateral radiorecurrent prostate cancer results in fewer and less severe morbidity than whole-gland salvage therapies, and may preserve pre-treatment health-related quality of life. Accurate imaging and biopsy are essential to identify malignancy suitable for focal therapy and to exclude metastatic disease. Based on the present results, prospective multicenter clinical trials with long-term follow-up are warranted."

2011: Focal Therapy with High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Prostate Cancer in the Elderly. A Feasibility Study with 10 Years Follow-Up.
Amine B. El Fegoun et al – Brazilian Journal of Urology
"This retrospective feasibility study shows that hemi-prostate ablation with HIFU is a reasonable treatment strategy for a selected population of low or intermediate risk prostate cancer in elderly men. The long-term cancer control rate is adequate, recurrences can be treated with a second HIFU session or other techniques. In the elderly, the concept of cancer control instead of cancer cure with HIFU has to be discussed, as it seems to provide an effective long term disease control with minimal treatment-related morbidity. More extensive biopsy protocols and more accurate imaging techniques will certainly improve patients' selection. Larger prospective studies with a long follow-up are awaited to confirm our small size preliminary results."

2011: HIFU as salvage first-line treatment for palpable, TRUS-evidenced, biopsy-proven locally recurrent prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy: A pilot study
Anastasios D. Asimakopoulos et al – Urologic Oncology 2011
"HIFU as salvage first-line treatment for palpable, TRUS-evidenced, biopsy-proven local recurrence of CaP is a feasible, minimally invasive day-case procedure, with an acceptable morbidity profile. It seems to have good cancer control in the short- and mid-term. Patients with lower pre-HIFU PSA level and favorable pathologic Gleason score seem to present better oncologic outcomes. A prospective randomized trial with an adequate recruitment and follow-up is necessary to confirm our preliminary oncologic results."

2010: Salvage Radiotherapy After High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Recurrent Localised Prostate Cancer
Julien Riviere et al. – European Urology
"After a preliminary study, our study has confirmed the feasibility of radiation therapy following HIFU. On the basis of oncologic outcome plus acceptable toxicity, SRT can be considered a treatment option for HIFU failures. Oncologic results will be addressed with a longer follow-up."

2010: A prospective study of salvage high-intensity focused ultrasound for locally radiorecurrent prostate cancer: Early results
VIKTOR BERGE et al. – Scandinavian Journal of Urology and Nephrology
"In conclusion, early results of salvage HIFU in patients with local recurrence of prostate cancer after radical EBRT indicate the procedure to be a reasonable treatment option, but better patient selection criteria are still requires. However, the side-effects are not negligible."

2008: Mid-term Results Demonstrate Salvage High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) as an Effective and Acceptably Morbid Salvage Treatment Option for Locally Radiorecurrent Prostate Cancer
François-Joseph Murat et al. – European Urology
"Salvage HIFU is a promising treatment option for local relapse after RT failure. This retrospective analysis shows high local tumor control. Favorable 5-yr outcomes are expected if HIFU is performed for low-risk or intermediate-risk patients. There are acceptable morbidity rates and especially nu URF with the specific post-radiation parameters. [...] Future advances in technology and safety will undoubtely expand the HIFU role in this indication."

2006: Recurrent Prostate Cancer After Radiotherapy – Salvage Treatment by High Intensity Focused Ultrasound
F-J. Murat et al. – European Oncological Disease
"Treatment with HIFU allowed local tumor control in 84% of patients treated for prostate cancer recurrence after radiotherapy, but disease control depended on initial risk factor and Gleason score at the time of recurrence. High-risk patients (T3 or PSA >20 or Gleason score ?8) are not good candidates for salvage treatment with HIFU: they must be strictly selected (18F-fluorocholine PET scan) as the majority have silent metastases associated with local recurrence. Conversely, treatment with HIFU is a very interesting curative option for low- or intermediate-risk patients, particularly if the Gleason score of the local recurrence is ?7."

2000: Transrectal High Intensity Focused Ultrasound: minimally invasive therapy for localized Prostate Cancer.
Gelet et al. – Journal of Endourology
"Transrectal HIFU prostate ablation is an effective therapeutic alternative for patients with localized prostatic adenocarcinoma."

2008: High-intensity focused ultrasound in prostate cancer; a systematic literature review of the French Association of Urology
Xavier Rebillard et al. – BJU International
"In patients selected [...], HIFU results in short-term cancer control, as shown by a high percentage of negative biopsies and substantially decreased PSA levels. Median-term DFS data (with the Ablatherm device) seem promising. With the continuous development of the Ablatherm device and the use of TURP before HIFU, the rate of HIFU-related complications has decreased. Recent studies show that HIFU is well tolerated, with a low rate of complications that compare favorably with those after established therapies. Longer-term follow-up studies are needed to further evaluate cancer-specific and overall survival rates."

2006: High Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Prostate Cancer: A Review of the Scientific Foundation, Technology and Clinical Outcomes
John C. Rewcastle et al. – Technology in Cancer Research and Treatment
"High intensity focused ultrasound is a technologically advanced non-invasive therapy for prostate cancer. There currently exist two commercially available treatment units each with their own merits. Longer follow-up is available with the Ablatherm device, which also has demonstrated high local disease control in multicenter investigations. The role of HIFU will continue to be defined as more patient series are published with longer term follow-up."

2005: Technology insight: High-intensity focused ultrasound for urologic cancers.
Chaussy C et al. – Nat Clin Pract Urol
"The latest published results suggest that HIFU treatment is a valuable option for well-differentiated and moderately-differentiated tumors, as well as for local recurrence after external-beam radiation therapy."

2011: Health-related quality of life after salvage high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment for locally radiorecurrent prostate cancer
Viktor Berge et al. – International Journal of Urology
"Treatment of localized radiorecurrent PCa by salvage HIFU is associated with clinically significant reductions in urinary and sexual function domains after a mean follow-up of 17.5 months."

2007: Factors Predicting for Formation of Bladder Outlet Obstruction After High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound in Treatment of Localized Prostate Cancer
Andreas Blana et al. – Journal of Urology
"In our study, the occurrence of BOO after HIFU was significantly associated statistically with older age. Surprisingly, TURP before HIFU was not an independent factor in the prevention of BOO during follow-up. However, the occurence of multiple BOO episodes could be reduced by resecting more tissue with TURP before HIFU."

2006: Morbidity associated with repeated transrectal high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment of localized prostate cancer
Andreas Blana et al. – World Journal of Urology
"Additional HIFU treatments in case of primary treatment failure for patients with localized prostate cancer are associated with only a minor increase in morbidity. However the forthcoming aim will be to lower the rate of patients with residual cancer after initial HIFU treatment by refined patient selection and more effective treatment modalities."

2003: The Status of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound in the Treatment of Localized Prostate Cancer and the Impact of a Combined Resection
C. Chaussy et al. – Current Urology Reports
"The combination of a TURP and HIFU treatment reduces the treatment-related morbidity significantly. The patient management after a combined TURP and HIFU treatment is comparable with the management after a single TURP."

1999: Treatment of localised prostate cancer with transrectal high intensity focused ultrasound.
Chapelon JY et al. – Eur J Ultrasound
"The quality of HIFU treatment depends on four factors: the intensity of the transmitted pulse, the exposure time, the signal frequency, and the time between two firing bursts. The lesions are created by a thermal effect. Their slightly conical form is due to the absorption of ultrasound by tissue, enhanced by cavitation bubbles."

2014: Radical Prostatectomy versus High Intensity Focused Ultrasound for localized prostate cancer: A Matched Pair Comparison
Crouzet S. et al. – AUA_OP3-12
"At 9 years, the rate of patients who need palliative ADT, the overall cancer specific and metastasis free survival rates were not significantly different between HIFU and RP."

2014: Does Age represent a limitation for HIFU treatment? Age stratified outcomes from a multicentre study of 2762 patients analysed from the @-Registry
Crouzet S. et al. – AUA_MP62-04
"At 10 years the overall survival rates (<70 yrs / >70yrs) was significantly different: 85% /74% (p<0.0001), but the cancer specific survival and the metastasis free survival rates (<70 yrs / >70yrs) were not significantly different: 98%/98% (p=0.975) and 94%/94% (p=0.784). [...] HIFU presents positive oncological and functional outcome in patients both below and above 70 years. HIFU treatment might be therefore a valuable therapeutic option for prostate cancer control regardless of age. "

2014: External Beam Radiation Therapy versus High Intensity Focused Ultrasound for localized prostate cancer: A Matched pair comparison
Crouzet S. et al. – AUA_MP62-02
"The five years progression free survival rate was not significantly different between HIFU and EBRT but the rate of patients who need palliative S-ADT was significantly higher for EBRT compare to HIFU."

2014: High Intensity Focused Ultrasound in Prostate Cancer. Multicentric, Long Term Retreatment Rate Decrease
Thueroff S. et al. – AUA_MP46-11
"Technical development and adjuvant TUR before HIFU since 2000 resulted in higher local efficacy and lower HIFU retreatment rates of latest 10% since use of Ablatherm integrated imaging. Moment of detection of recurrent/residual PCa by PSA and biopsies was within the first year after 1st HIFU."

2013: Limitation of the current criteria for biochemical recurrence (BCR) after high intensity ultrasound (HIFU) in localized prostate cancer.
Sanchez-Salas R. et al. – EAU_MP589
"Actual criteria for BCR definition for HIFU patients are probably not adjusted to show the real disease behavior. PSA bouncing needs to be considering to state an improved BCR definition. Significant differences between salvage treatment and BCR definitions show the limitations of today´s criteria."

2013: HIFU treatment outcomes for localized prostate cancer from the first European centers
Crouzet S. et al. – AUA_MP50
"The biochemical survival rate achived with HIFU at 10 years is encouraging and negative biopsy rates are high across all risk groups. Ablatherm® HIFU treatment appears as a valuable therapy for long term prostate cancer control."

2013: Radical HIFU in Localized Prostate Cancer
Chaussy C. et al. – WCE_MP10-14
"TURP before HIFU resolves technical restrictions, expands indications, standardizes any prostate, but does not resolve the problem of secondary TURP for fibro-stenotic tissue within the prostate. PSA Nadir <0.1 ng/ml, PSA velocity/year of 0.05, last median PSA levels after 5 years of 0.3 ng/ml showed a high oncological efficacy. Retreatment rate for recurrent PCa decreased to 15% within the last 5 years."

2012: High intensity focused ultrasound at 3 MHz delays onset of androgen deprivation therapy in locally advanced prostate cancer
Chaussy C. et al. – EAU_MP888
"TUR & HIFU ablation in this T3-4, N0, M0 PCa cohort of 131 patients resulted in an overall PSA Nadir of 0.28 ng/ml and a median PSA velocity of 0.26 (ng/ml/year). Until a mean follow up of 3 years, 95.5 % of the patients remained without ADT. Level of initial PSA showed again to be a significant predictive value for therapy success."

2012: Oncological outcomes of high-intensity focused ultrasound for localized prostate cancer in 1098 consecutive patients
Crouzet S. et al. – EAU_MP980
"Local control and disease free survival rates achieved with HIFU were similar to those expected with conformal external beam radiation therapy with at 10 years a specific and metastasis survival rate of 98% and 94% respectively. HIFU can be repeated when necessary and is not a therapeutic impasse: it can also be associated to a salvage radiation therapy, which will lead to excellent prostate cancer control results."

2011: 10 year outcome and morbidity of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) as a primary therapy for localized prostate cancer: outcomes from 2552 men followed with the @-Registry
Ganzer R. et al. – AUA_MP1004
"HIFU provides good biochemical control through 10 years of follow-up with a mild morbidity profile. Negative biopsy rates are high across all risk groups. These long term outcomes represent HIFU emerging from investigational status to become a standard primary treatment option."

2011: Outcomes of HIFU for prostate cancer in 880 consecutive patients
Crouzet S. et al. – EAU
"Local control and disease free survival rates achieved with HIFU were similar to those expected with conformal external beam radiation therapy. HIFU can be repeated when necessary and is not a therapeutic impasse: it can also be associated to a salvage radiation therapy which will lead to excellent prostate cancer control results."

2011: Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer treated with TURP and High Intensity Focused Ultrasound at 3 MHz: A new tool for cancer control
Chaussy C. et al. – WCE
"TURP & HIFU in CrPCa reduced PSA by 84% and resulted in a median PSA velocity of 2.95ng/ml/year. 1/3 did not receive further ADT. 2/3 rd of the patients were still alive after a follow up of 2 years and had a PSA below entry PSA at treatment onset."

2015: Hemiablation HIFU treatment for unilateral localized prostate cancer: final results of the French Association of Urology
Rischmann P et al. – AFU

2015: Focal treatment of prostate cancer using Focal One device: pilot study results
Pasticier G et al. – ASCO GU

2014: Focal therapy with HIFU for localized prostate cancer: a prospective multicenter study
Rischmann P. et al. – EAU_MP358

2014: NERVE SPARING HIFU: Clinical Experience with the EDAP Ablatherm® Device
Chinn D. et al. – Focal Therapy and Imaging_PP36
"The technique of subtotal gland ablation appears to be effective in preserving sexual function while providing excellent PSA control. While there can be more side effects in comparison to focal therapy, the risk of leaving occult or potential prostate cancer tissue untreated is less. The cohort is quite small and follow up is less than 10 years. Further studies are required to validate the true potential of the nerve sparing HIFU, in particular, utilizing subtotal gland ablation."

2014: Focal HIFU (Focal One®) treatment of localized prostate cancer diagnosed with MRI-ultrasound fusion targeted biopsies (Koelis®): preliminary results
Nevoux P. et al. – Focal Therapy and Imaging_PP29

2013: Tolerance and efficacy of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) focal therapy as primary treatment for localized prostatic carcinoma: preliminary results
Conort P. et al. – Focal Therapy and Imaging_PP37
"The follow-up without systematic Prostate Biopsy seemed to be a safe option. The PB at 24 months for all patients is expected to confirm these initial results. HIFU-FT is very well tolerated with preliminary encouraging oncological results. A longer follow-up is required to confirm the benefit of the HIFU-FT and the safety of this method of follow-up."

2012: Nerve sparing HIFU as primary "focalized" treatment for localized prostate cancer : a single center study of 158 man with 7 years of follow up
D'Hont C. et al. – EMUC_PO88
"Nerve sparing HIFU (Less ablation) provides good biochemical control through > 7 years of follow-up combined with a relatively low rate of side effects = excellent QOL and good cancer control (same Quality of Treatment) in well selected patients. With more reliable imaging techniques more focalized HIFU treatment becomes a possible and safer first choice treatment in patients with limited and more focalized prostate cancer concerned about their Quality Of Life after treatment, knowing that in case of a local recurrence all salvage options (2nd HIFU & all other treatments) still remain possible."

2012: Hemi salvage HIFU in patients with radio-recurrent prostate cancer
Baco E. et al. – Focal Therapy and Imaging
"Hemi-salvage HIFU is efficient in patients with unilateral radio-recurrent prostate cancer with a preserved QoL. It may offer comparable cancer control to whole gland treatment."

2015: External beam radiation therapy or high intensity-focused ultrasound for localized prostate cancer: a matched pair analysis in PSA era
Pasticier G et al. – ASCO GU

2012: Multicentric oncologic outcomes of salvage HIFU for local failure after external beam radio therapy: 7 years biochemical survival of 929 patients
Crouzet S. et al. – EAU_MP982

2011: Biochemical survival of 596 patients treated with salvage HIFU after failed external beam radiation tracked with the @-registry and stratified by PSA and pre-treatment hormone usage
Crouzet S. et al. – EAU
"Patients with recurrent disease following radiation therapy represent a difficult population to manage as the disease is aggressive and metastases are often microscopic and occult. These outcomes demonstrate that HIFU should be considered the standard treatment in the event of recurrence. Those patients treated first with hormone therapy had poorer outcomes than those treated immediately with HIFU. Early detection of radiation failure and prompt treatment with HIFU is recommended as a definitive local therapy with curative intent."

2011: Treatment of locally recurrent prostate cancer after External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT): Factors Predicting Oncological Outcome of Salvage High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)
Crouzet S. et al. – USANZ
"Patients most likely to benefit from an HIFU salvage therapy have pre-RT low or intermediate disease. Results are better in patients with pre HIFU PSA values <4ng/ml which suggest that HIFU salvage treatment must be considered as soon as possible after the local recurrence."

2010: HIFU following failed Radiation Therapy: Biochemical Survival of Ablatherm Registry
Ward J. et al. – AUA_MP463
"The management of patients following radiation therapy is difficult. Four years after salvage HIFU 55% of patients remained biochemically disease free and 73.8% showed no evidence of local recurrence on follow-up biopsy. These results are encouraging and show the ability to return patients to disease free status following failed radiation therapy."

2010: Salvage High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) for the Treatment of Locally Recurrent Prostate Cancer after External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT): factors influencing the outcome
Murat F.J. Et al. – EAU
"Salvage HIFU is a valid and effective treatment option for low and intermediate pre-EBRT risk group patients presenting with local recurrence after EBRT. Salvage HIFU is more effective when intended as soon as possible with PSA at the time of the recurrence under 4ng/ml. The PSA nadir post-HIFU is the major predictive factor of success."

2010: HIFU as a salvage treatment method for PCa local recurrence after radical prostatectomy
Alayev U. et al. – EAU
"Monotherapy salvage HIFU after radical prostatectomy failure is promising for its minimal invasiveness, low complications risk and absence of toxicity. Further development of special HIFU planning and performing techniques is needed in order to achieve good oncological results."

2012: High Intensity Focused Ultrasound at 3MHz in localized prostate cancer: Side effects of 704 patients within 10 years
Stefan Thueroff et al. – EAU_MP978
"A low number of severe side effects was registered. TUR did decrease the overall side effect rate (catheter time, UTI, sludging) but not the 2ndary reintervention rate (obstruction): ¼ of the patients needed 2nd endourological intervention (at month 6-12). The spectrum of "potential side effects, which never occurred" shows the low invasiveness of the procedure."

2011: Can splitting TURP and HIFU in two session reduce complication rate ?
Roberto Sanseverino et al. – AUA_MP1299
"Splitting TURP and HIFU in two different sessions seems to reduce postoperative complications and improve patient tolerance of the procedure. Longer follow up and larger patient population are needed to obtain more robust evidence."

2011: Health-related quality of life after salvage high intensity focused ultrasound treatment (HIFU) for locally radiorecurrent prostate cancer
Viktor Berge et al. – EAU
"Treatment of localized radiorecurrent CaP by salvage HIFU is associated with clinically significant reduction in urinary function after mean follow up of 17.5 months. The reduction of sexual function is probably of less significance in this population. The results are comparable to similar studies done for salvage cryotherapy and seem to show less side effects compared to salvage prostatectomy HRQOL studies."