Timothy McClure, MD, on next steps for focal therapy in prostate cancer

Focal therapy has emerged as a promising treatment option for patients with localized prostate cancer, offering effective cancer control while minimizing urinary and sexual adverse effects. Timothy D. McClure, MD, suggests that future advancements for procedures such as irreversible electroporation (IRE) will help improve oncologic outcomes, thus further encouraging the use of these treatment options.

“I think we'll have better tools in the future to help improve the oncologic outcomes for patients undergoing focal therapy,” he explained. “I also think that there'll be potentially roles where we do focal IRE with combined therapy, like lower dose whole-gland radiation, to help improve the oncologic efficacy of focal therapy.”

McClure is an assistant professor of urology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, New York.

McClure also emphasized the need for longer-term studies in order to build on the findings from the PRESERVE trial (NCT04972097).

Overall, the PRESERVE trial showed that irreversible electroporation (IRE) with the NanoKnife System is a safe and effective method for prostate tissue ablation in patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer. the trial met its primary end point by demonstrating a negative in-field biopsy rate of 71% (95% CI, 62 to 79) at 12 months.

With 5- to 10-year data, McClure says, we can begin to understand the true efficacy of these focal therapy options.

McClure reports relevant disclosures with AngioDynamics.

REFERENCE

1. George AK, Miocinovic R, Patel AR, et al. Irreversible electroporation for prostate tissue ablation in patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer: Results from the PRESERVE trial. Eur Urol. 2025:S0302-2838(25)00346-X. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2025.06.003