Follow-Up of Men Who Have Undergone Focal Therapy for Prostate Cancer with HIFU—A Real-World Experience

Abstract

Purpose: To determine oncological and functional outcomes and side effects after focal therapy of prostate cancer (PCa) with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). Methods: This retrospective single-center study included 57 consecutive patients with localised PCa. Aged 18–80 with ≤2 suspicious lesions on mpMRI (PIRADS ≥ 3), PSA of ≤15 ng/mL, and an ISUP GG of ≤2. HIFU was performed between November 2014 and September 2018. All men had an MRI/US fusion-guided targeted biopsy (TB) combined with a TRUS-guided 10-core systematic biopsy (SB) prior to focal therapy. HIFU treatment was performed as focal, partial, or hemiablative, depending on the prior histopathology. Follow-up included Questionnaires (IIEF-5, ICIQ, and IPSS), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measurement, follow-up mpMRI, and follow-up biopsies. Results: The median age of the cohort was 72 years (IQR 64–76), and the median PSA value before HIFU was 7.3 ng/mL (IQR 5.75–10.39 ng/mL). The median follow-up was 27.5 (IQR 23–41) months. At the time of the follow-up, the median PSA value was 2.5 ng/mL (IQR 0.94–4.96 ng/mL), which shows a significant decrease (p < 0.001). In 17 (29.8%) men, mpMRI revealed a suspicious lesion, and 19 (33.3%) men had a positive biopsy result. Only IIEF values significantly decreased from 16 (IQR 10.75–20.25) to 11.5 (IQR 4.5–17) (p < 0.001). The rate of post-HIFU complications was low, at 19.3% (11 patients). The limitation of this study is the lack of long-term follow-up. Conclusions: HIFU as a therapy option for nonmetastatic, significant prostate cancer is effective in the short term for carefully selected patients and shows a low risk of adverse events and side effects.