Median 4-year outcomes of salvage irreversible electroporation for localized radio-recurrent prostate cancer

Objectives: To evaluate the safety, and short to mid-term oncological and quality-of-life (QoL) outcomes of focal irreversible electroporation (IRE) for radio-recurrent prostate cancer (PCa) at a median follow-up of 4 years.

Patients and methods: This was a single-centre series of men with biopsy-proven radio-recurrent PCa treated with IRE between December 2013 and February 2022, with a minimum follow-up of 6 months. Follow-up included magnetic resonance imaging at 6 months, and standard transperineal saturation template biopsies at 12 months. Further biopsies were guided by suspicion on serial imaging or prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Validated questionnaires were used to measure functional outcomes. Significant local recurrence was defined as any International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) score ≥ 2 on biopsies. Progression-free survival was defined as no signs of local or systemic disease on either imaging or template biopsies, or according to the Phoenix criteria for biochemical recurrence.

Results: Final analysis was performed on 74 men with radio-recurrent PCa (median age 69 years, median PSA level 5.4 ng/mL, 76% ISUP score 2/3). The median (range) follow-up was 48 (27-68) months. One rectal fistula occurred, and eight patients developed urethral sloughing that resolved with transurethral resection. Among patients who returned questionnaires (30/74, 41%), 93% (28/30) had preserved urinary continence and 23% (7/30) had sustained erectile function at 12-month follow-up. Local control was achieved in 57 patients (77%), who needed no further treatment. Biopsy diagnosed 41(55%) patients received follow up template biopsies, in-field recurrences occurred in 7% (3/41), and out-field recurrences occurred in 15% of patients (6/41). The metastasis-free survival rate was 91% (67/74), with a median (interquartile range) time to metastases of 8 (5-27) months. The Kaplan-Meier estimated 5-year progression-free survival rate was 60%.

Conclusions: These short- to mid-term safety, oncological and QoL outcome data endorse results from smaller series and show the ability of salvage focal IRE to safely achieve oncological control in patients with radio-recurrent PCa.