Following up on my post yesterday regarding ablation treatments for prostate cancer, one of the ablation modalities noted was HIFU, or high-intensity focused ultrasound. Unlike lasers, RF, microwave or cryotherapy, ultrasound offers superior control of energy output. 3D control and directionality of the energy delivered provides the ability to treat a prescribed target volume and shape which is critical for tumor ablation and increased energy penetration into the target tissue enables the treatment of larger tumor volumes and reduces treatment times.
As is frequently the case with new technologies, initial enthusiasm is eventually tempered (to varying degrees) by long term outcomes data. A review of 2-year data on HIFU for prostate cancer (published in UroToday) presented a less than enthusiastic view of HIFU, indicating that there is inadequate data yet on its efficacy and safety in prostate cancer.
HIFU has indeed yet to demonstrate its efficacy in a number of clinical applications, but while the authors of the UroToday article are justifiably prudent in advising clinicians to view HIFU with some caution, one would be equally prudent to not accept at face value statements like, "companies … have invested heavily in these new technologies and often market them aggressively, irresponsibly and unwisely with immature data."
Energy-based technologies, by virtue of having effects that are not as evident as those of a traditional scalpel, should indeed be evaluated for those effects (positively and negatively), but neither HIFU nor any other ablative technology should be so summarily dismissed.
See Report #A125, "Ablation Technologies Worldwide: Products, Technologies, Markets, Companies and Opportunities."
Comments 2
Urology Specialists In Hackensack New Jersey Specializing in Prostate cancer research, prevention and Therapy.
Posted 25 Jun 2009 at 3:43 am ¶Very interesting and informative article. The treatment is given using a machine that gives off high frequency sound waves. These waves deliver a strong beam to a specific part of a cancer. Some cells die when this high intensity ultrasound beam is focused directly onto them.
Posted 07 Sep 2009 at 2:26 pm ¶Trackbacks & Pingbacks 1
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