Dr. Joseph Chin performs world first procedure at LHSC

LHSC and Lawson announce world first treatment of localized prostate cancer
Canada Newswire
April 24, 2013

A new minimally invasive treatment option for patients with localized prostate cancer is now available at LHSC. The treatment - transurethral magnetic resonance (MR) guided ultrasound ablation for prostate cancer - uses a new ablation device with thermal ultrasound therapy and real-time MR image guidance to eliminate cancer cells in the prostate gland. This provides physicians with a 360 degree viewing angle, allowing the whole prostate gland to be treated in one session and with greater accuracy.

"This represents a significant advance in the management of prostate cancer," said Dr. Joseph Chin, division of urology, chief, surgical oncology, LHSC. "Magnetic resonance image guidance allows us to target prostate tissue, using ultrasound energy without harming healthy tissue outside of the prostate."

Conventional treatments for localized prostate cancer, including radiation therapy and surgery, are effective in controlling the disease yet can reduce the patient's quality of life due to long-term complications. This new treatment option will reduce these complications and can also benefit patients who have a smaller amount of cancer that is less likely to spread.

Unlike previous experimental procedures, this new treatment does not require the prostate to be removed in order to examine treatment effects. Long term effects of the treatment will be monitored on both the patient and prostate in a clinical trial treating 30 patients with localized prostate cancer. Patients will be followed annually for five years to collect data related to treatment effectiveness and side effects.

"We hope the clinical trial will show that this system can provide an effective and minimally invasive treatment for localized prostate cancer, with minimal side effects," adds Chin.

Click on the image below to hear Dr. Chin discuss the new procedure.