Feb 20, 2026
3 min read
A less invasive, targeted treatment called salvage local therapy that targets only the area of prostate cancer can cure men who have recovered from prostate cancer after radiation therapy with fewer side effects and less impact on quality of life.
Focal therapy effectively treats men with prostate cancer after radiation therapy with fewer side effects, new study says
memento Carl O'Hare
A minimally invasive targeted treatment called focal salvage therapy, which targets only the cancerous area of the prostate, has fewer side effects and less impact on quality of life for men whose prostate cancer has recurred after radiotherapy, according to a new study.
The study, published in JAMA Oncology by researchers at London College and Academies Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, compared salvage local treatment using heat (high intensity focused ultrasound HIFU) or cold (cryotherapy) with complete prostatectomy (radical prostatectomy). The researchers found that local therapy was equally effective in treating recurrent cancer and had fewer complications.
Between 10,000 and 15,000 men in the UK receive radiotherapy for prostate cancer each year.About a quarter of them will develop cancer again within ten years, up to 4,500 men each year.
This study shows that salvage focal therapy is just as effective as these more radical and invasive options, while also having fewer side effects.This means we now have a treatment that preserves patients' quality of life while controlling the cancer.Alexander Light Clinic of Surgery and Cancer Dr.
One of the treatments given to these men involves prostate removal surgery (salvage radical prostatectomy) which comes with many side effects, such as long recovery, major problems, life-long instability and sexual dysfunction.Many people choose not to have a full operation because of the side effects they can face, so the outlook for these men is not good, many do not live more than five years.Doctors say that new methods of treatment are urgently needed for these men.
The research team compared data on survival and complications/side effects from 554 men in England who underwent focal therapy or total prostatectomy between 2006 and 2024.They discovered:
· Salvage focal therapy is as effective as radical prostatectomy for treating cancer - both have high survival rates for most men (9 out of 10) ten years after surgery.
· Those who received focal treatment of areas of prostate cancer were 9 to 24 times less likely to develop minor and major complications than those who underwent total prostatectomy.One in 20 patients who received focal therapy developed complications, compared with six in 10 patients who underwent salvage radical prostatectomy.
The researchers say the findings will have an immediate impact on frontline clinical care, as many UK NHS centers already offer focal therapy, including College Healthcare NHS Trust, and it is also available in private centres.
Dr Alexander Light, NIHR Doctoral Fellow at College London and Nephrology Registrar at College Healthcare NHS Trust, said: "Radiation is one of the most common treatments for prostate cancer, with 10,000 men receiving this treatment each year. Sadly, a third of these end up with cancer. Hormone therapy or major surgery to remove the entire prostate (suppresses the body's production of testosterone)termination) options.
He continued: "This study shows that salvage focal therapy is just as effective as these more radical and invasive options, and has far fewer side effects. This means that we now have a treatment that preserves patients' quality of life while controlling the cancer. Patients have a short procedure in hospital and can go home the same day. They can walk and eat and drink and can soon reduce stress on family friends and reduce their quality of work.
Lead author Mr Taimur Shah, Clinical Associate Professor of Urology from the Department of Diseases and Cancer and consultant urologist at the College Healthcare NHS Trust said: "This study provides long-term comparative data and important evidence to support targeted recovery efforts, and hopefully lead to the revision of NICE guidelines so that clinicians know how best to treat this group of people. Spread.
He added: "Focal therapy already exists on the NHS and in private, with centers such as Charing Cross Hospital in London already offering the treatment, along with other centers in the capital (UCLH) and around the country (Southampton, Basingstoke, Brighton, Newcastle, Northampton, Bath, King's Lane) for patients who cannot be treated in another country, who cannot enter hospital."do it
Focal Therapy Made My Life Better - Steve's Story
Steve Bannister's story shows exactly why this research is important.
Steve, now 73 and a former construction worker, was first diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2005, in his early 50s. He had locally advanced disease and was initially given a grim prognosis, with only a few years to live. Radiotherapy was suggested as the best available option and I was given definitive radiotherapy in combination with hormonal therapy. So he took his chance and received this life-saving treatment.
Steve said: "I always knew there was a chance the cancer would come back within five years. I coped well with it for 17 years, but at great personal cost. I have long-term problems with severe urinary symptoms and erectile dysfunction. The consequences of these life changes have greatly affected my quality of life. Even though the cancer has been under control for many years."
In 2022, Steve's PSA levels began to rise again, and he experienced groin pain again.Investigations confirmed that his prostate cancer had returned, but remained confined to the prostate.He was offered more radical treatment by his local hospital - presumably major surgery, which carried a high risk of exacerbating his already challenging complications.
Steve was determined to look for alternatives and thanks to Paul Sayer, a leading central treatment charity, Prost8 UK, he was convinced to seek further advice.Paul himself underwent successful treatment for prostate cancer in 2018, which led to the establishment of the charity.Paul introduced Steve to the consultant urologist at Charing Cross Hospital and College, London, Professor Hashim Ahmed, an international expert in central therapy.
Instead of removing or treating the entire prostate, Professor Ahmed recommends salvage focal therapy, precisely targeting areas of recurrent cancer while sparing healthy tissue.Steve first recorded cryotherapy in early 2022, followed by more targeted salvage HIFU ablation in July 2024.This treatment has been completely successful, with no recurrence to date and less severe results than more aggressive treatments.
Steve said: "I am eternally grateful to the amazing team at Professor Ahmed for spearheading this highly effective life-saving treatment option and allowing me to use it. My life is so much better because of it, and I hope many more men across the country will have the same opportunity as me."
The research at College Healthcare NHS Trust is supported by funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Center (BRC), a research partnership between College Healthcare NHS Trust and College London, which has been awarded £95 million in 2022 to continue developing new tests and patient assessments. The researchers were supported by grants from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Centers for Experimental Cancer Medicine.
"Salvage focal therapy versus radical prostatectomy for localized radiorecurrent prostate cancer" by Alexander Light, Max Peters, Manit Aria, et al.is published in JAMA Oncology.DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2025.6448
Sleek Credit: Shutterstock/Chinnapong
This article is based on material produced by College Healthcare NHS Trust.
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