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Why we should not routinely apply irreversible electroporation as an alternative curative treatment modality for localized prostate cancer at this stage

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Abstract

Irreversible electroporation (IRE), a new tissue ablation procedure available since 2007, could meet the requirements for ideal focal therapy of prostate cancer with its postulated features, especially the absence of a thermal ablation effect. Thus far, there is not enough evidence of its effectiveness or adverse effects to justify its use as a definitive treatment option for localized prostate cancer. Moreover, neither optimal nor individual treatment parameters nor uniform endpoints have been defined thus far. No advantages over established treatment procedures have as yet been demonstrated. Nevertheless, IRE is now being increasingly applied for primary prostate cancer therapy outside clinical trials, not least through active advertising in the lay press. This review reflects the previous relevant literature on IRE of the prostate or prostate cancer and shows why we should not adopt IRE as a routine treatment modality at this stage.

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Authors’ contributions

J. J. Wendler is the corresponding author, wrote the manuscript, collected and analyzed the data, and developed the project. R. Ganzer, B. Hadaschik, A. Blana, T. Henkel, K. U. Köhrmann, S. Machtens, A. Roosen, G. Salomon, L. Sentker, U. Witzsch, H. P. Schlemmer and J. Köllermann edited and critically revised the manuscript and voted for internal consensus. D. Baumunk wrote and edited the manuscript. M. Schostak is the chief of academy, wrote the manuscript and developed the project. U. B. Liehr is a senior author, wrote the manuscript and developed the project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Magdeburg University Medical Center, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany

    J. J. Wendler, D. Baumunk, M. Schostak & U. B. Liehr

  2. Institute of Pathology, Sana Medical Center Offenbach, Offenbach, Germany

    J. Köllermann

  3. Department of Urology, Ruprecht-Karls University, Heidelberg, Germany

    B. Hadaschik

  4. Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Medical Center Fürth, Nuremberg, Germany

    A. Blana

  5. Department of Urology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

    R. Ganzer

  6. Urological Practice of Dr. Henkel and Dr. Kahmann, Berlin, Germany

    T. Henkel

  7. Department of Urology, St. Theresa Hospital, Mannheim, Germany

    K. U. Köhrmann

  8. Department of Urology, St. Maria Hospital, Bergisch-Gladbach, Germany

    S. Machtens

  9. Department of Urology, Augusta-Krankenanstalt gGmbH Bochum, Bochum, Germany

    A. Roosen

  10. Martini Clinic, Hamburg-Eppendorf University Medical Center, Hamburg, Germany

    G. Salomon

  11. Joint Urological Practice, Sinsheim, Germany

    L. Sentker

  12. Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Northwest Hospital & Medical Center, Frankfurt/Main, Germany

    U. Witzsch

  13. Department of Radiology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany

    H. P. Schlemmer

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  1. J. J. Wendler
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  2. R. Ganzer
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  3. B. Hadaschik
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  8. A. Roosen
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  9. G. Salomon
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Correspondence to J. J. Wendler.

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J. J. Wendler, R. Ganzer, B. Hadaschik, A. Blana, T. Henkel, K. U. Köhrmann, S. Machtens, A. Roosen, G. Salomon, L. Sentker, U. Witzsch, H. P. Schlemmer, D. Baumunk, J. Köllermann, M. Schostak and U. B. Liehr: Working Group for Focal and Microtherapy (AKFM) of the Academy of the German Urological Association (DGU) e. V., Düsseldorf, Germany.

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Wendler, J.J., Ganzer, R., Hadaschik, B. et al. Why we should not routinely apply irreversible electroporation as an alternative curative treatment modality for localized prostate cancer at this stage. World J Urol 35, 11–20 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-016-1838-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-016-1838-y

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