[Focal therapy combined with immunotherapy for prostate cancer: Advances in studies]

Prostate cancer (PCa) ranks as the second most prevalent malignancy among males worldwide at present, and its prevalence keeps rising. Focal therapy not only results in tumor necrosis but also encourages the release of autoantigens originating from the tumor into the bloodstream and activates the host immune system to effectively fight the tumor. However, focal therapy alone may not achieve the total ablation of cancer cells and may cause locoregional recurrence. Immunotherapy, by boosting the body's immune response, destroys tumor cells and prevents immune escape. Recent studies show that focal therapy combined with immunotherapy can produce a better clinical efficacy by enhancing the initial immune response, especially for low- to intermediate-risk confined PCa. This article offers some fresh perspectives on the management of PCa by reviewing the etiology and progression of the malignancy, focal therapeutic options, and advantages and vista of focal therapy combined with immunotherapy.