Effective and gentle prostate cancer treatment – with NanoKnife (IRE)

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancer types in men. One man in six will get prostate cancer. Recent UK statistics show that it is a bigger killer than breast cancer.

The prostate is surrounded by delicate structures that are important for urinary and erectile functions. That is why it is important to treat prostate cancer in a gentle, yet effective way. With NanoKnife (IRE), this is now a possibility for prostate cancer patients.

The prostate is a gland in men that produces a fluid that makes up about 30% of the ejaculatory fluid. It is found below the bladder and infront of the rectum. Prostate cancer develops when cells in a man’s prostate gland start to grow uncontrollably. Established treatment options such as prostatectomy (the surgical improvement) impair both continence and erectile function to varying degrees, often leading to complete incontinence and impotence. With the NanoKnife system, it is possible to preserve vital structures around the prostate and minimize side effects.

Effective and gentle prostate cancer treatment – with NanoKnife (IRE)

How NanoKnife Works

In simple terms, NanoKnife is a novel, FDA-approved cancer treatment for prostate cancer that locally destroys the cancer in a minimally invasive procedure rather than surgically removing the entire prostate. The technology uses Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) to destroy affected cells selectively, without damaging surrounding tissue – without radiation or surgery. To achieve that, thin electrodes are carefully placed around the tumor, and short, very high voltages are applied. Unlike traditional treatment options, NanoKnife gets straight to the tumor in a two hour procedure. No rehabilitation or aftercare is necessary, and patients do not experience pain. At the same time, side effects are minimized, without incontinence and minimal risk of impotence.

The Procedure Requires Experience

While the procedure is simple, any focal therapy is based on precise placement of the electrodes, which requires a great amount of attention to detail and experience.

Prof. Stehling and his team have treated over 650 prostate cancer patients with IRE, and can report an impotence rate of less than 10% and an incontinence rate of 0%.

With specialist prostate cancer treatment clinics in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and now in the USA, Vitus are the world leaders in prostate cancer treatment, offering patients hope, innovative treatment and impressive results.

„I didn’t have any problems at all with incontinence. Just five weeks after the procedure I could get an erection again.“ Says a patient from Germany, continuing „One year after IRE treatment, all urological functions (urination, erection, ejaculation) work perfectly well, my PSA value is 1.0 and all follow-up MRI showed no pathological changes. Everything is great!“

Vitus Prostate Center San Diego opened in 2017, inspired by the success of The Prostate Center, founded by Professor Michael K. Stehling in Offenbach am Main in Germany, in 2010. Professor Stehling’s inspiration for the Centers came from the realization that a paradigm shift was needed in the treatment of prostate cancer: away from traditional methods that were imprecise, and towards a new targeted, gentle procedure that would reduce side effects, such as impotence and incontinence. With NanoKnife, this is now the reality.