Single session of high-intensity focused ultrasound for localized prostate cancer: treatment outcomes and potential effect as a primary therapy

Purpose: To investigate the treatment outcomes of a single-session high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) using the Sonablate^® for patients with localized prostate cancer.

Methods: Biochemical failure was defined according to the Stuttgart definition [a rise of 1.2 ng/ml or more above the nadir prostate-specific antigen (PSA)] and the Phoenix definition (a rise of 2 ng/ml or more above the nadir PSA). Disease-free survival rate was defined using the Phoenix criteria and positive follow-up biopsy.

Results: A total of 171 patients were identified. Fifty-two (30.4 %) patients were identified to be with D’Amico low risk, 47 (27.5 %) with intermediate risk, and 72 (42.1 %) with high risk. In the median follow-up time of 43 months, there was 44 (25.7 %) and 36 (21.1 %) patients experienced biochemical failure for Stuttgart and Phoenix definition with mean (±SD) time to failure of 17.8 ± 2.1 and 19.4 ± 2.3 months, respectively. A total of 44 (25.7 %) patients were diagnosed as disease failure. Cox multivariate analysis revealed PSA nadir level (PSA cutoff = 0.2 ng/ml; HR = 9.472, 95 % CI 4.527–19.820, p < 0.001) and D’amico risk groups [HR = 3.132 (95 % CI 1.251–6.389), p = 0.033] were the predictor for failure in single-session HIFU.

Conclusions: Single-session HIFU treatment using the Sonablate^® seems to be potentially curative approach. When treated carefully with neoadjuvant hormonal therapy or preoperative transurethral resection of the prostate, higher-risk disease might be able to choose this minimally invasive procedure as primary therapy.