NYC Gazette

A recent study led by NYU Grossman School of Medicine researchers indicates that primary partial gland cryoablation (PPGCA) can prevent prostate cancer recurrence while preserving urinary and sexual function in most patients. The five-year research tracked outcomes for men who underwent PPGCA, a procedure targeting only the cancerous part of the prostate gland with extreme cold to destroy it.

The study, published in Urology, involved 91 participants and found that 81 achieved treatment success over five years. This measure, termed freedom-from-failure (FFF), means patients did not die from prostate cancer, experience metastasis, or require whole-gland therapy. Notably, 15 patients underwent a second successful round of focal therapy when cancer recurred after the FFF period ended, while another 15 needed whole-gland treatment.

“It’s worth considering that the need to take out the whole gland was judged to be treatment failure in our study, even though nearly all of these men, before the advent of partial gland removal, would have had the whole-gland procedure,” said senior study author Herbert Lepor, MD.

Advances in MRI technology allowed researchers to identify cancer sites and aggressiveness accurately. Between May 2017 and March 2024, 313 men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer were identified as suitable candidates for the study. Of these, 91 were evaluated for FFF over five years due to no mortality or metastasis during that time.

Dr. Lepor noted that intermediate-risk patients were chosen because their level of disease typically requires immediate whole-gland treatment upon diagnosis. He added that both his extensive experience with radical prostatectomies and study results suggest many men would opt for focal cryotherapy if given a choice.

The research emphasized intense patient surveillance post-PPGCA. Patients underwent PSA tests every six months and had MRIs or biopsies at specific intervals over five years. This rigorous follow-up likely contributed to high compliance rates and low dropout rates among participants.

“This study represents the largest comprehensive, prospective study of men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer treated with partial gland cryoablation,” said James S. Wysock, MD.

The study's authors include Eli Rapoport, Majlinda Tafa, and Rozalba Gogaj from NYU Langone's Department of Urology. It was funded by private donors who had undergone the procedure themselves.

NYU Langone Health is recognized for its high-quality care across multiple locations and specialties. It operates two tuition-free medical schools and has a significant research enterprise supported by over $1 billion in active NIH awards.