Ultrasound against prostate cancer
Scientists cured prostate cancer with ultrasound in one day without side effects
Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+
The treatment proved to be effective for 93% of patients, and most importantly, it had no side effects and complications that usually occur with modern methods of treating prostate tumors. The procedure is performed in a few hours and does not require any serious preparation of the patient.
Article by Ghai et al. MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound Ablation for Localized Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer: Early Results of a Phase II Trial published in the journal Radiology – VM.
Prostate cancer is considered the most common cancer in men. Although the tumor is effectively treatable with surgery and radiation therapy, quite frequent side effects, such as erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence, significantly worsen the quality of life of men.
Researchers from Canada and the USA applied the focused ultrasound method against prostate tumors and used MRI to monitor the procedure, the press release of Ultrasound Technique Treats Prostate Cancer with Minimal Side Effects reports.
By combining a high-intensity focused ultrasound device with an MRI, it is possible to accurately target a tumor with minimal capture of healthy tissues, the scientists explain. Until now, such treatment has been performed under the control of ultrasound, but accurate visualization of the cancer focus and targeted effects on the tumor have been difficult.
During the procedure, which takes about four hours, the patient is under general anesthesia. High-frequency ultrasound waves through a probe in the rectum reach the site of the tumor and start the process of destroying cancer.
The treatment was tested among 44 men and in 93% of them, a biopsy showed no cancer during five months of follow-up. At the same time, the erectile and urethral function was not disrupted.
An important advantage of using MRI is almost instantaneous information about the temperature that is necessary for the destruction of malignant tissue – the procedure requires at least 60 degrees Celsius – and doctors can immediately adjust the indicators. In addition, MRI can immediately show the presence of any intact vessels at the treatment site - clear signs of cancer cell survival.
Currently, scientists are awaiting approval of the procedure for clinical use from the US regulator FDA.
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