Oncological and Quality-of-life Outcomes Following Focal Irreversible Electroporation as Primary Treatment for Localised Prostate Cancer: A Biopsy-monitored Prospective Cohort

Abstract Background Focal irreversible electroporation (IRE) can be used to treat men with localised prostate cancer (PCa) with reduced impact on quality of life (QoL). Objective To assess oncological and functional outcomes. Design, setting, and participants To report on a prospective database of patients undergoing primary IRE between February 2013 and August 2018. A minimum of 12-mo follow-up was available for 123 patients. Median follow-up was 36 mo (interquartile range [IQR] 24–52 mo). A total of 112 (91%) patients had National Comprehensive Cancer Network intermediate risk and 11 (9%) had low risk. A total of 12 (9.8%) had International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade 1, 88 (71.5%) had ISUP 2, and 23 (18.7%) had ISUP 3. Intervention Focal IRE ablation of PCa lesions. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Follow-up involved serial prostate-specific antigen (PSA), multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), and transperineal template mapping biopsy (TTMB) at 12 mo. Failure-free survival (FFS) was defined as progression to whole-gland or systemic treatment or metastasis/death. Functional outcomes were assessed. Results and limitations Median age was 68 yr (IQR 62–73 yr). Median preoperative PSA was 5.7 ng/ml (IQR 3.8–8.0 ng/ml). On post-treatment TTMB, in-field recurrence was present in 2.7–9.8% of patients. FFS at 3 yr was 96.75%, metastasis-free survival 99%, and overall survival 100%. A total of 18 patients required salvage treatment (12 had repeat IRE; six had whole-gland treatment). The negative predictive value of mpMRI was 94% and sensitivity 40% for detecting in-field residual disease 6 mo after treatment. Among patients who returned questionnaires, 80/81 (98.8%) remained pad free and 40/53 (76%) had no change in erectile function. Conclusions Focal IRE in select patients with localised clinically significant PCa has satisfactory short-term oncological outcomes with a minimal impact on patient QoL. Patient summary In this study, 123 patients underwent focal therapy using irreversible electroporation. Follow-up biopsy was clear of residual disease in 90.2–97.3% of patients. Of patients, 96.75% avoided whole gland treatment at 3 yr.