title: Why we should not routinely apply irreversible electroporation as an alternative curative treatment modality for localized prostate cancer at this stage.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Magdeburg University Medical Center, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany. johann.wendler@med.ovgu.de.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wendler
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ganzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Ruprecht-Karls University, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hadaschik
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Medical Center Fürth, Nuremberg, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blana
authors.affiliation: Urological Practice of Dr. Henkel and Dr. Kahmann, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Henkel
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, St. Theresa Hospital, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: K U
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Köhrmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, St. Maria Hospital, Bergisch-Gladbach, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Machtens
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Augusta-Krankenanstalt gGmbH Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roosen
authors.affiliation: Martini Clinic, Hamburg-Eppendorf University Medical Center, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salomon
authors.affiliation: Joint Urological Practice, Sinsheim, Germany.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sentker
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Northwest Hospital & Medical Center, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Witzsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Schlemmer
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Magdeburg University Medical Center, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baumunk
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Sana Medical Center Offenbach, Offenbach, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Köllermann
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Magdeburg University Medical Center, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schostak
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Magdeburg University Medical Center, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: U B
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Liehr
mesh_terms: D055011:Ablation Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D018274:Electroporation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Ablation; Definitive treatment; Focal therapy; Irreversible electroporation; Localized prostate cancer; Prostate