In a nutshell
This study evaluated the long-term safety and effectiveness of cryoablation (a process that uses extreme cold to destroy tissue) for patients with early prostate cancer. This study found that cryoablation is safe and effective for early-stage prostate cancer.
Some background
Cryoablation is a treatment option for early-stage prostate cancer. This involves delivering cold temperatures directly into the prostate using probes. Prostate removing surgery or radiation are the usual treatment options but cryoablation could be an alternative. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein in the blood which can be used to monitor the effect of treatment. It is still unclear if cryoablation is safe and effective on the long-term.
Methods & findings
This study included 94 men with prostate cancer. Patients were followed up for an average of 5.6 years. The effectiveness of treatment was measured using PSA measurements. Biochemical failure would indicate a rise in PSA and would indicate that cancer has grown.
Five years after treatment, 81% of patients did not have a rise in PSA levels. 74.5% of patients achieved a PSA level under 0.2 ng/ml. 95% of patients were alive without cancer spreading (metastases) 5 years later.
Side-effects such as urinary incontinence (involuntary loss of urine) were low with 4% of patients experiencing this. Erectile dysfunction occurred in 11% of the patients who did not have this condition before the procedure.
The bottom line
This study found that cryoablation is safe and effective for early-stage prostate cancer.
The fine print
This is a retrospective study. This means the authors looked back at the medical records of patients. This is not the best level of evidence.
Published By :
European Urology
Date :
Sep 28, 2018
