Standardized Nomenclature and Surveillance Methodologies After Focal Therapy and Partial Gland Ablation for Localized Prostate Cancer: An International Multidisciplinary Consensus

A Systematic Review of Focal Ablative Therapy for Clinically Localised Prostate Cancer in Comparison with Standard Management Options: Limitations of the Available Evidence and Recommendations for Clinical Practice and Further Research

“…Novel study designs, such as cohort-embedded RCTs, should be encouraged and supported [52]. It would be imperative to use standardised criteria and validated thresholds in terms of patient eligibility, definitions of interventions, imaging modalities during treatment and monitoring, repeat treatments within a predefined timescale, biopsy schedules during follow-up, and outcome measures assessed at appropriate intervals and follow-up duration, since there is significant heterogeneity regarding FT [53,54]. The use of patient-reported outcome measures to measure functional and QoL outcomes should be encouraged.…”

Imaging and technologies for prostate cancer. Where are we now—where do we go?

“…Although mpMRI has provided an excellent platform for localization and image-guidance, it cannot accurately display the boundaries of all cancers and many cancers remain MRI-invisible [10]. Finally, after the focal treatment, it remains challenging to evaluate treatment efficacy by the interpretation of the serum PSA, imaging-and biopsy results during follow-up as well as, the actual quality of life occurring after the intervention [11,12].…”

Data-driven Focal Therapy for Localized Prostate Cancer: A Wake-up Call

“…However, proxy outcomes for long-term (ie, 10-yr) outcomes will need to be used thoughtfully and pragmatically given the challenges of recruiting patients to trials in the FT setting. Importantly, efforts are ongoing to standardize the definitions of FT treatment and patient selection criteria [5][6][7]. In a parallel to the radiation oncology space, which has many different forms of radiation treatment, many practitioners of FT believe in the equipoise of the various energy sources.…”