Focal Treatment of Prostate Cancer with Vascular-Targeted Photodynamic Therapy
Epidemiologic and pathologic features of prostate cancer have given rise to an interest in focal treatment for carefully selected patients. Prostate cancer remains highly prevalent, particularly in the U.S. and Europe. As screening programs have become more aggressive and widespread, a substantial p...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2008-01-01
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| Series: | The Scientific World Journal |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2008.127 |
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| Summary: | Epidemiologic and pathologic features of prostate cancer have given rise to an interest
in focal treatment for carefully selected patients. Prostate cancer remains highly
prevalent, particularly in the U.S. and Europe. As screening programs have become more
aggressive and widespread, a substantial proportion of men diagnosed with localized
prostate cancer have disease characteristics associated with a low risk of progression.
Treatments such as radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy can lead to durable
recurrence-free survival in most patients, but carry variable risks of bowel, urinary, and
sexual side effects. Few men and few urologists are comfortable leaving a potentially
curable prostate cancer untreated. Focal therapy offers an attractive alternative for the
patient faced with a choice between aggressive local intervention (radiation or surgery)
and watchful waiting. Contemporary diagnostic biopsy strategies and imaging tools, and
the development of predictive statistical models (nomograms), have led to improvements
in tumor characterization and risk stratification, making focal therapy a viable treatment
option for specific men. This article reviews the rationale and indications for focal
therapy and highlights vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy (PDT) as one of many
promising focal therapy techniques. |
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| ISSN: | 1537-744X |