High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation Shows Promise in Veterans

TOPLINE: A small study of veterans found that high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) demonstrated similar oncologic outcomes when compared to standard treatments for localized prostate cancer, while maintaining erectile and urinary function. 

METHODOLOGY: 

•      A retrospective analysis at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston between 2018 and 2022, with data acquired from electronic health record.
•      A total of 43 veterans were included in the analysis; 31 patients (72%) receiving primary treatment and 12 patients (28%) receiving salvage therapy.
•      Patient risk stratification was performed using prostate specific antigen (PSA), Gleason Score, and clinical stage based on National Comprehensive Cancer Network and D'Amico criteria.
•      Follow-up assessments included serial PSA measurements at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, with functional outcomes evaluated through Sexual Health Inventory for Men and American Urological Association Symptom Score questionnaires.

TAKEAWAY:

•       The 31 patients in the primary treatment group had a median PSA nadir of 0.16, while the 12 patients in the salvage therapy group had a median PSA nadir of 0.12, with median follow-up periods of 23 and 25 months, respectively.
•       Local recurrence rates were comparable between groups, occurring in 5 patients (16%) in the primary group and 2 (17%) in the salvage group.
•       Sexual Health Inventory for Men scores and American Urological Association Symptom Score showed no statistically significant differences before and after HIFU therapy in both groups (P = .35). > .05).
•       Short- and intermediate-term results demonstrated HIFU's effectiveness in maintaining potency and urinary function while providing adequate oncological control for both primary and salvage therapies.
•      Two patients (7%) from the primary treatment group experienced 30-day complications, including one case of epididymo-orchitis and 1 case of urethral stricture.
•      Three patients (25%) from the salvage treatment group experienced 30-day complications, including one bladder neck contracture.

IN PRACTICE: "The application of HIFU in a veteran population is of particular interest due to the unique medical challenges this group faces. Veterans often present with complex medical conditions and a higher comorbidity burden compared to the general population, as indicated by a median Charleson Comorbidity Index of 7 in our primary HIFU group," wrote the authors of the study. 

SOURCE: The study was led by Sagar Patel and Ali Antar, Operative Care Line, Urology Section, Michael E. DeBakey Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Houston. It was published online in Life.

 LIMITATIONS: The study's relatively short median follow-up period of 23-25 months limits the assessment of long-term oncological outcomes in prostate cancer. The sample size, while substantial for an initial series, remains modest, particularly for the salvage therapy group. According to the authors, larger multi-center studies with longer follow-up periods will be necessary to confirm and extend these findings, especially for establishing the durability of oncological control and functional preservation. 

DISCLOSURES: The study received no external funding. The research was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and received approval from the Institutional Review Board in February 2024. Support was obtained from the Prostate Cancer Foundation-VALOR Challenge Program. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication

TOPLINE: A small study of veterans found that high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) demonstrated similar oncologic outcomes when compared to standard treatments for localized prostate cancer, while maintaining erectile and urinary function. 

METHODOLOGY: 

•      A retrospective analysis at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston between 2018 and 2022, with data acquired from electronic health record.
•      A total of 43 veterans were included in the analysis; 31 patients (72%) receiving primary treatment and 12 patients (28%) receiving salvage therapy.
•      Patient risk stratification was performed using prostate specific antigen (PSA), Gleason Score, and clinical stage based on National Comprehensive Cancer Network and D'Amico criteria.
•      Follow-up assessments included serial PSA measurements at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, with functional outcomes evaluated through Sexual Health Inventory for Men and American Urological Association Symptom Score questionnaires.

TAKEAWAY:

•       The 31 patients in the primary treatment group had a median PSA nadir of 0.16, while the 12 patients in the salvage therapy group had a median PSA nadir of 0.12, with median follow-up periods of 23 and 25 months, respectively.
•       Local recurrence rates were comparable between groups, occurring in 5 patients (16%) in the primary group and 2 (17%) in the salvage group.
•       Sexual Health Inventory for Men scores and American Urological Association Symptom Score showed no statistically significant differences before and after HIFU therapy in both groups (P = .35). > .05).
•       Short- and intermediate-term results demonstrated HIFU's effectiveness in maintaining potency and urinary function while providing adequate oncological control for both primary and salvage therapies.
•      Two patients (7%) from the primary treatment group experienced 30-day complications, including one case of epididymo-orchitis and 1 case of urethral stricture.
•      Three patients (25%) from the salvage treatment group experienced 30-day complications, including one bladder neck contracture.

IN PRACTICE: "The application of HIFU in a veteran population is of particular interest due to the unique medical challenges this group faces. Veterans often present with complex medical conditions and a higher comorbidity burden compared to the general population, as indicated by a median Charleson Comorbidity Index of 7 in our primary HIFU group," wrote the authors of the study. 

SOURCE: The study was led by Sagar Patel and Ali Antar, Operative Care Line, Urology Section, Michael E. DeBakey Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Houston. It was published online in Life.

 LIMITATIONS: The study's relatively short median follow-up period of 23-25 months limits the assessment of long-term oncological outcomes in prostate cancer. The sample size, while substantial for an initial series, remains modest, particularly for the salvage therapy group. According to the authors, larger multi-center studies with longer follow-up periods will be necessary to confirm and extend these findings, especially for establishing the durability of oncological control and functional preservation. 

DISCLOSURES: The study received no external funding. The research was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and received approval from the Institutional Review Board in February 2024. Support was obtained from the Prostate Cancer Foundation-VALOR Challenge Program. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication

TOPLINE: A small study of veterans found that high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) demonstrated similar oncologic outcomes when compared to standard treatments for localized prostate cancer, while maintaining erectile and urinary function. 

METHODOLOGY: 

•      A retrospective analysis at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston between 2018 and 2022, with data acquired from electronic health record.
•      A total of 43 veterans were included in the analysis; 31 patients (72%) receiving primary treatment and 12 patients (28%) receiving salvage therapy.
•      Patient risk stratification was performed using prostate specific antigen (PSA), Gleason Score, and clinical stage based on National Comprehensive Cancer Network and D'Amico criteria.
•      Follow-up assessments included serial PSA measurements at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, with functional outcomes evaluated through Sexual Health Inventory for Men and American Urological Association Symptom Score questionnaires.

TAKEAWAY:

•       The 31 patients in the primary treatment group had a median PSA nadir of 0.16, while the 12 patients in the salvage therapy group had a median PSA nadir of 0.12, with median follow-up periods of 23 and 25 months, respectively.
•       Local recurrence rates were comparable between groups, occurring in 5 patients (16%) in the primary group and 2 (17%) in the salvage group.
•       Sexual Health Inventory for Men scores and American Urological Association Symptom Score showed no statistically significant differences before and after HIFU therapy in both groups (P = .35). > .05).
•       Short- and intermediate-term results demonstrated HIFU's effectiveness in maintaining potency and urinary function while providing adequate oncological control for both primary and salvage therapies.
•      Two patients (7%) from the primary treatment group experienced 30-day complications, including one case of epididymo-orchitis and 1 case of urethral stricture.
•      Three patients (25%) from the salvage treatment group experienced 30-day complications, including one bladder neck contracture.

IN PRACTICE: "The application of HIFU in a veteran population is of particular interest due to the unique medical challenges this group faces. Veterans often present with complex medical conditions and a higher comorbidity burden compared to the general population, as indicated by a median Charleson Comorbidity Index of 7 in our primary HIFU group," wrote the authors of the study. 

SOURCE: The study was led by Sagar Patel and Ali Antar, Operative Care Line, Urology Section, Michael E. DeBakey Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Houston. It was published online in Life.

 LIMITATIONS: The study's relatively short median follow-up period of 23-25 months limits the assessment of long-term oncological outcomes in prostate cancer. The sample size, while substantial for an initial series, remains modest, particularly for the salvage therapy group. According to the authors, larger multi-center studies with longer follow-up periods will be necessary to confirm and extend these findings, especially for establishing the durability of oncological control and functional preservation. 

DISCLOSURES: The study received no external funding. The research was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and received approval from the Institutional Review Board in February 2024. Support was obtained from the Prostate Cancer Foundation-VALOR Challenge Program. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication