Laser that can zap prostate tumours

A PIONEERING therapy using highpowered laser beams may cure prostate cancer, according to research.

The technology doesn’t require surgery and has already been successful in destroying the tumours of 19 men.

It ‘fuses’ an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanner with ultrasound to identify diseased cells. A precisely targeted laser fibre is then heated up to kill them.

Urologist Professor Leonard Marks, of the University of California, Los Angeles, said: ‘Our feeling was if you can see prostate cancer using the fusion MRI and can put a needle in the spot to biopsy it, why not stick a laser fibre in the tumour the same way to kill it.

‘This is akin to a lumpectomy for breast cancer. Instead of remov-

‘Akin to a lumpectomy’

ing the whole organ, target just the cancer inside it.

‘What we are doing with prostate cancer now is like using a sledgehammer to kill a flea.’

The technique, called focal laser ablation, was first used on eight participants by guiding the laser fibre into the cancerous tissue just with MRI.

Six months later there were no serious side effects or changes in urinary or sexual function.

A follow up study involving 11 subjects then showed the clinical potential of the therapy using a machine known as Artemis that combines both MRI and ultrasound. After four months, they have also had no problems.

Prof Marks said if the laser treatment proves effective in further studies it could mean thousands of men avoiding surgery and radiation, which can result in erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence.