[Focal therapy for prostate cancer: Progress in research]

Prostate cancer (PCa) is currently the second most common malignancy in men worldwide，and its incidence rate is on the rise. Most cases of PCa are treated by radical prostatectomy, but with the development of medical imaging and innovation in therapeutic theories and technology, focal therapy has shown better application prospects in the treatment of PCa. Compared with radical prostatectomy, focal therapy yields satisfactory results in terms of effectiveness and reduction of complications in addition to avoidance of overtreatment and treatment-related financial burden. This article reviews the strategies of focal therapy for PCa, including cryoablation, high-intensity focused ultrasound, irreversible electroporation, and photodynamic therapy, with an analysis of the clinical trials in recent years.