Pilot Study to Assess Safety and Clinical Outcomes of Irreversible Electroporation for Partial Gland Ablation in Men with Prostate Cancer.

PURPOSE: Partial prostate gland ablation is a strategy to manage localized prostate cancer. Irreversible electroporation can ablate localized soft tissues. We describe 30 and 90-day complications and intermediate term functional outcomes in men undergoing prostate gland ablation using irreversible electroporation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the charts of 25 patients with prostate cancer who underwent prostate gland ablation using irreversible electroporation as a primary procedure and who were followed for at least 6 months.

RESULTS: Median followup was 10.9 months. Grade 3 complications occurred in 2 patients including epididymitis (1) and urinary tract infection (1). Fourteen patients experienced grade 2 or lower complications, mainly transient urinary symptoms, hematuria and urinary tract infections. Of 25 patients 4 (16%) had cancer in the zone of ablation on routine followup biopsy at 6 months. Of those with normal urinary function at baseline 88% and 94% reported normal urinary function at 6 and 12 months after prostate gland ablation, respectively. By 12 months only 1 patient with normal erectile function at baseline reported new difficulty with potency and only 2 patients (8%) required a pad for urinary incontinence.

CONCLUSIONS: Prostate gland ablation with irreversible electroporation is feasible and safe in selected men with localized prostate cancer. Intermediate term urinary and erectile function outcomes appear reasonable. Irreversible electroporation is effective in the ablation of tumor bearing prostate tissue as a majority of men had no evidence of residual cancer on biopsy 6 months after prostate gland ablation.