New treatment for prostate cancer could result in reduced side effects

Researchers are exploring a promising new approach to treating prostate cancer that could reduce the risk of side effects for men. Clinical trials are underway to evaluate aquablation a procedure that combines robotics, artificial intelligence, and real-time imaging and determine if it can match or surpass the effectiveness of traditional prostate removal surgery.

Conventional surgery, typically performed when the cancer is confined to the prostate, can lead to serious complications, including infections, urinary difficulties, and erectile dysfunction. Aquablation aims to lower these risks through a more precise method.

The technique uses a high-pressure waterjet guided by robotic assistance, while the prostate is continuously mapped with ultrasound. This allows surgeons to target cancerous tissue accurately while protecting the surrounding nerves and muscles responsible for sexual and urinary function. Currently, aquablation is also employed to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia in several medical centers.

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust in London has become the first European hospital to enroll a patient in the government-supported trial led by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Overall, 280 men with early-stage, localized prostate cancer, who have already opted for surgery, will participate across seven countries.

Philip Charlesworth, a consultant urological surgeon at the Royal Marsden, explained: For men with cancer limited to the prostate, curative treatments are highly effective. Yet we are increasingly focused on reducing side effects and using new technologies to preserve quality of life. Aquablation offers a robotic-assisted approach to remove the tumor while maintaining continence and sexual function.

Charlesworth added that the trial has the potential to introduce an alternative surgical option for localized prostate cancer worldwide, aiming for less invasive and less harmful treatment.

Other current options for localized prostate cancer include active surveillance and radiation therapy. The ongoing trial is sponsored by Procept BioRobotics and involves over 25 centers globally. In the UK, participating hospitals include the Royal Marsden, Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Author: Zoe Harrison