Focal therapy maybe the option that patients are looking for. It is considered the middle way, a step between active surveillance and whole gland treatment. Currently, there is no long term data regarding this new treatment approach. Focal therapy is still considered investigational; we are offering a new treatment approach that aims to help ablate (kill) prostate tissue.
Ultra Focal Therapy refers to a highly specialized and personalized approach to treating prostate cancer, where the physician possesses a comprehensive skill set and an array of advanced tools to deliver precise focal therapy. Essential skills include the expertise to interpret complex imaging techniques such as prostate MRI and PSMA PET scans, which are pivotal in accurately diagnosing and localizing prostate cancer. The physician also employs various treatment modalities to tailor a treatment plan that meets the unique needs of each patient.
Despite the critical role of these skills in prostate cancer management, it’s notable that a relatively small percentage of urologists—less than 5%—are proficient in reading and interpreting prostate MRIs themselves. Most urologists depend on radiologists for this interpretation. However, radiologists may not have the same depth of understanding of the biopsy and disease process specific to prostate cancer that a urologist would have. This underscores the importance of seeking a physician with specialized skills and a holistic understanding of prostate cancer treatment for optimal management of the condition.
We are very excited to announce the first in human publication using nanoparticle directed photothermal ablation of prostate tumors in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America. Our trial combined the latest in nanomedicine research and magnetic resonance imaging with ultrasound fusion for targeting prostate cancer. Patients with focal low- intermediate risk prostate cancer were enrolled in the trial. Dr. Rastinehad is the National Principal Investigator and inventor of the technique used in the trial. Click to read PNAS publication
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men. The difficult part is that not all men need to be screened and worse treated. The good news is that there is significant evidence that active surveillance is an acceptable option, which means men can avoid treatment even though they have prostate cancer. MR US fusion guided prostate biopsy has been used to help better select men for active surveillance.
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At Mount Sinai, we are one of the two test centers in the United States help research and develop new biopsy technology with Invivo, A Philips Healthcare company. Dr. Rastinehad has been developing a new biopsy approach using UroNav as a transperineal platform to perform biopsies with lower infection rates. This new technology has now raised the question:
Doctor, if you can see the cancer on MRI and then biopsy it using MR US fusion guided prostate biopsy technology, why can’t you just treat those spots?
Prostate cancer is a very complicated disease for patients to understand. The issue is that not all cancers need to be treated, but others need treatment. The definition of what is clinically significant can vary depending on many factors. The difficulty for some patients is that ANY cancer to them is clinically significant. They want it treated!
Emberton and colleagues have reviewed their series of patients treated for prostate cancer and estimated ~ 50% of men could have been candidates for focal therapy. The other factor is that traditional therapies which include radiation and or surgery can be associated with urinary leakage and erectile dysfunction.
Focal therapy maybe the option that patients are looking for. It is considered the middle way, a step between active surveillance and whole gland treatment. Currently, there is no long term data regarding this new treatment approach. Focal therapy is still considered investigational; we are offering a new treatment approach that aims to help ablate (kill) prostate tissue.
What is exciting, this technology (MR US Fusion) can be combined with focal treatment approaches to now allow doctors to focus on specific areas within the prostate. A Mount Sinai, we are excited to have Dr. Rastinehad as the national principal investigator using gold nanoparticles to focally ablate prostate tissue in collaboration with Nanospectra Biosciences. The gold nanoparticles are able to selectively be deposited within hyper-vascular tumors. The clinical challenge is that when treating prostate cancer focally is that you may damage adjacent structures (prostate nerves, urethral sphincter, rectum and other structures). We are investigating ultra-focal therapy (UFT) which allows us to improve targeting for prostate ablation. If you are interested, please contact 212-241-4812 for a consult and/or email our Research Nurse, Cindy Knauer ([email protected])
For more information, please visit. We are actively recruiting patients. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02680535.
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