Surgeons Hail Laser Treatment For Prostate Cancer As "'Truly Transformative"

[Arthur Little]

Debilitating impotence and incontinence have [hitherto] long been just two of the legacies of prostate cancer sufferers!!

But ... recent trials conducted on 413 men at 47 hospitals across Europe - as reported in 'The Lancet Oncology' - have revealed that a new technique using lasers containing a drug developed from bacteria found on the seabed could, conceivably, eliminate even the need for radiotherapy, chemotherapy and invasive operative treatment ... leaving the prostate gland intact.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38304076 ...

[grahamw48]

This has to be very good news for us codgers.

[Arthur Little]

This has to be very good news for us codgers.

... oh aye, undoubtedly ... !

[Michael Parnham]

Brilliant!!!

[Doc Alan]

The study of " vascular targeted photodynamic therapy " ( VTPT ) using a drug made from deep sea bacteria injected into the bloodstream and activated by laser, the first of its kind, does show promise.


However, it’s not possible to say when ( possibly several years ), indeed if, at what cost, and where, this treatment could become more widely available. It needs to be assessed by regulators such as " NICE " ( National Institute for Health and Care Excellence ).


It was carried out by researchers from hospitals across 10 European countries, funded by " Steba Biotech " ( holding the commercial licence for the treatment ). Many of the study’s authors were employed by or had financial links to this company.


The " randomised controlled trial " involved 413 men and compared VTPT with " active surveillance " / AS ( careful monitoring involving biopsy / sampling for microscopy, measuring PSA / protein made by the prostate, and rectal examination ).


Cancer had progressed at 24 months in 28% men in the treatment group, compared to 58% in the AS group. 49% in the treatment group had a negative prostate biopsy ( no cancer seen by medical pathologists on microscopy ) compared to 29% of the AS group. Only 6% of the VTPT group then needed surgery / radiotherapy compared to 29% of the AS group.


This study does need to be put into context. The results can’t be generalized to men with more advanced cancer. It involved white men ( only 5 / 413 being of other racial backgrounds ). We know that there is variation in frequency worldwide ( commonest in American black males ; Filipinos probably similar to Caucasians ). The study didn’t compare treatment with other options ( surgery / radiotherapy ). Follow up has only been for two years ( five or even ten years would be more valuable ). Does it always " spare " healthy tissue, and how might it affect other cancers ?


Diagnosis of prostate cancer is usually made on clinical symptoms and examination, raised PSA ( not reliable enough for a national screening programme ), and needle core samples for microscopic examination by a medical pathologist. Most men over the age of 80 die with - but not because of - this cancer. Entirely benign ( non cancerous ) enlargement of the prostate is also common and causes similar symptoms. There is a previous Forum thread on the topic here.