Project Lead: Claudia Wild
Authors: Judit Erdös, Louise Schmidt, Inanna Reinsperger
Publication: August 2024
Language: English (with German summary)
This update report assesses three alternative treatments to radical therapies for localised prostate cancer (PCA): irreversible electroporation (IRE) uses electrode needles to target and destroy carcinoma tissue; stereotactic radiation therapy (SBRT) and proton therapy (PT) are forms of external beam radiation therapy, SBRT delivers high dose radiation in fewer fractions than conventional or moderate fractionation radiation, while PT delivers high-dose ionizing radiation with great precision.
The current evidence remains insufficient to conclude that IRE, SBRT, and PT improve outcomes in terms of survival and quality of life, as well as the avoidance of radical invasive procedures like prostatectomy, compared to conventional therapies. Recent RCTs on SBRT show minor differences in survival rates compared to conventional fractionation radiation in low- and intermediate-risk PCa. Further research is necessary for definitive conclusions.