A Paradigm Shift in Urological Oncology
Prostate cancer is one of the most frequent tumors in men, but traditional treatments often heavily impacted their quality of life. New clinical evidence promises to change this scenario forever.
Focal therapy is a minimally invasive approach that destroys only the tumor tissue, preserving the prostate gland and avoiding severe sequelae such as urinary incontinence or sexual dysfunction, common side effects in radical surgery or radiotherapy.
Overwhelming Results After a Decade of Tracking
The research, led by the Imperial College of London and published in the journal European Urology, analyzed the evolution of 3,477 patients treated between 2004 and 2024 in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. The results are encouraging: prostate cancer-specific mortality at ten years was only 0.13% (only 2 patients died from the disease), and just 3% experienced relapse with metastasis.
High Survival Rate
An 88% of the patients were still alive after ten years, with cancer control rates comparable to radical interventions.
Fewer Adverse Effects
The risk of incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and rectal problems is reduced up to five times compared to traditional alternatives.
How Does Focal Therapy Work?
This treatment is aimed at patients with localized tumors on only one side of the prostate (unilateral), of intermediate or high risk, and without metastasis. It is estimated that this group represents between 30% and 40% of diagnoses. The main technologies used are:
- HIFU (High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound): Uses extreme heat to destroy cancer cells. Generally applied to tumors located in the back of the prostate.
- Cryotherapy: Uses extreme cold (freezing) to eliminate tumor tissue, ideal for tumors in the front or larger prostates.
- TMA (Microwave Technology): A variant with real-time ultrasound control, which has been successfully implemented in Argentina.
Application in Argentina and the Local Scenario
In Argentina, a country with a strong medical research tradition where between 11,000 and 12,800 new cases are diagnosed annually, this therapy has been used for over a decade in specialized centers. During the international congress UROVIVO 2025, organized by the Hospital de Clinicas Jose de San Martin (one of the most prestigious public hospitals in Buenos Aires), the TMA technique was presented, showing how the country is on par with top European hospitals.
The urologist Marcelo Borghi, a pioneer in using this technique in the country, stated that focal therapy has gone from being an innovative proposal to becoming a concrete option. Meanwhile, the medical director of the Centro de Urologia (CDU), Ezequiel Becher, compared this advance to the evolution of breast cancer treatment, where aggressive surgeries were replaced by tissue-conserving procedures. With the prostate, we are 40 years behind breast cancer treatment, Becher noted.
The Case of David Cameron
Former British Prime Minister David Cameron revealed on his social media on July 17, 2026, that he received this therapy. He highlighted that it reduces the risk of adverse effects that alter the quality of life and urged to expand access so more men can benefit from targeted treatments.
Challenges and Future
Despite the enthusiasm, specialists point out that barriers still exist for its mass implementation in Latin America, mainly linked to technology costs, accessibility, and specific medical training. However, with growing acceptance from the scientific community and expected cost reductions due to competition, focal therapy is projected as the future standard, offering personalized, effective treatments that respect patients quality of life.