Prostate Irreversible Electroporation Study

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Irreversible Electroporation for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer

Conventional treatment options for localized prostate cancer include prostatectomy, radiotherapy and active surveillance. However, prostatectomy and radiotherapy carry certain degree of morbidity, including the risks of urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction and injury to the structures in the proximity. Active surveillance carries the risk of disease progression and psychological distress to the patients. Focal therapy employs the concept of only destroying the significant lesion, resulting in disease cure and improved functional outcome. Among the different options of focal therapy, Irreversible electroporation has evolved over the past decades and can be a reliable treatment option. Our study aims at assess the safety and effectiveness of such treatment in prostate cancer management.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Men aged between 40 - 85 years
• Visible index lesion(s) on MRI
• Found to have localized prostate cancer after MRI-USG fusion targeted biopsy or USG-guided template biopsy: Clinical tumour stage <=T2, or Gleason score <=7, or PSA <= 20 ng/ml

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients unfit for contrast MRI exam
• Patients with active urinary tract infection
• Patients with bladder pathology including bladder stone and bladder cancer
• Patients with urethral stricture
• Patients with neurogenic bladder and/or sphincter abnormalities
• Patients who fail to give informed consent