Study: Promising Results from Microwave Thermal Therapy

Canadian researchers report promising initial results from an experimental approach using interstitial microwave thermal therapy to treat prostate cancer patients for whom traditional external beam radiation has failed.

The new treatment involves inserting five thin needles through the skin directly into the prostate between the scrotum and the rectum. Small antennae attached to the needles radiate microwaves into the prostate, heating it up to 55 to 70 degrees centigrade for 15 to 20 minutes.

"Just as food heats up in your microwave at home, the microwaves emitted from these antennae heat up the prostate tissue to such an extent that they kill all the cells in the prostate," said Dr. Michael Sherar, whose findings were published in the Journal of Urology.

"The technical challenge is to heat as much of the prostate as we can without damaging the surrounding tissue, including the rectum, bladder and urethra," Sherar said.

He said doctors at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto tried this treatment on 25 patients, and initial results found that 64 per cent of these patients were cancer-free six months after being treated with interstitial microwave thermal therapy.

"The preliminary results are very promising, not only in terms of eliminating the disease, but providing a treatment that produces few complications," Sherar said.

"Although these early findings show the procedure has potential, further study in large groups and for longer periods of time is needed to determine the durability of this therapy," he added.

Other Sources: Journal of Urology, Toronto Star