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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
05:19
A New Technique for Treating Low-risk Prostate Cancer—Super Active Surveillance
Published on: November 7, 2025
Focal therapy for prostate cancer: revolution or evolution?
Ryan Turpen1, Charles J Rosser
1Department of Urology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA. ryan.turpen@urology.ufl.edu
BMC Urology
|April 24, 2009
Summary
Since the 1980s, prostate cancer diagnosis has shifted to smaller tumors due to PSA screening. Focal therapy offers an appealing alternative to whole-gland treatments, but requires precise lesion identification and further research.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Urology
Background:
- Prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment have evolved significantly since the introduction of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening in the late 1980s.
- PSA screening has led to earlier detection of smaller prostate cancers, shifting the paradigm from advanced disease to localized tumors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of focal therapy as a treatment option for localized prostate cancer.
- To highlight the need for advancements in identifying and imaging index lesions for effective focal treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of current treatment modalities for localized prostate cancer, including expectant management, radiation therapy, and surgery.
- Discussion of the principles and challenges associated with focal therapy for prostate cancer.
Main Results:
- Current whole-gland treatments offer excellent cancer-specific survival but are associated with significant morbidity.
- Focal therapy presents an appealing approach to minimize treatment-related side effects by targeting only cancerous tissue.
Conclusions:
- Focal treatment of prostate cancer is a promising concept that requires further investigation.
- Accurate identification of index lesions, advanced imaging techniques, and methodical study of focal therapeutic options are crucial for the successful implementation of focal prostate cancer therapy.
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