Prostate Cancer Treatment: Cryoablation in Context

One of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies in men worldwide, prostate cancer (PCa) is the subject of much study across various treatment approaches and medical specialties. Currently, 5-year survival rates exceed 90%, and research efforts have increasingly shifted towards approaches that improve quality of life, minimizing the likelihood and severity of morbidities associated with treatment. Focal cryoablation is an approach that has been steadily gaining traction in recent years, both for its reduced risk of morbidity and greater potential for salvage therapy, relative to standard treatment. The goal of this work is to discuss the safety and efficacy of focal cryoablation for prostate cancers and define it in context among other treatment approaches. Publications describing approaches to, results from, and the science behind PCa cryoablation were reviewed and collated, describing the current landscape. Additional comparisons were made against analogous approaches, including radiation, surgical resection, hormone therapy, and other ablation modalities. Currently available literature characterizes prostate cryoablation as an effective and well-tolerated approach for treating primary and recurrent PCa, although the data are limited by heterogeneous evidence, lack of standardized endpoints, and an absence of robust randomized comparisons. Cryoablation for prostate cancer continues to evolve, offering a minimally invasive treatment option for both primary and salvage prostate cancer patients, although additional long-term studies are needed.