Nanoknife – Focal Irreversible Electroporation (IRE)

Why We Treat Some Prostate Cancer With Focal IRE – NanoKnife©

Whilst most prostate cancers occupy large areas of the prostate, there are some that occupy less than half and often less than a quarter of the prostate gland. These more focal prostate cancers probably constitute about 20% of all prostate cancers. With high quality3T multiparametric MRI combined with template 3D transperineal biopsies and sometimes combined with PSMA PET scanning, it is now much more possible to identify this select group of patients. The advantage of focal treatments of the prostate with energy sources such as the NanoKnife allow eradication of the cancer with minimal side effects.

Whole-gland therapies such as surgery, radiotherapy and brachytherapy have a long and established track record in the treatment of multifocal and high grade prostate cancer. However, their use in more focal cancers may be regarded as overtreatment based on recent data from a large randomised trial (PROTECT trial ). Furthermore, radical prostatectomy, radiotherapy and brachytherapy have a significant side effect profile including urinary incontinence, impotence and rectal damage which are largely avoided by focal NanoKnife therapy.

Why Focal Nanoknife (IRE)

Of the different energy sources used to treat focal prostate cancer, these can largely be separated into thermal energies using freezing and heating and non-thermal energies. Thermal energies such as cryotherapy, high intensity focused ultrasound and laser therapy destroy all tissue including cellular and non-cellular elements as well as nerves and blood vessels and major structures such as rectum, bladder and sphincter. Furthermore, it is difficult to reliably get heat and cold into some tissues with high blood flow and calcification. NanoKnife (IRE) is a non-thermal ablative energy which selectively destroys cells whilst preserving non-cellular tissue elements.. Needles are placed into the prostate via the skin behind the scrotum and a high power electrical current is passed between the electrodes to destroy the cancer and approximately 1 cm of surrounding tissue . IRE has low toxicity on critical anatomical structures such as vessels, nerves (neurovascular bundle) and organs such as the rectum, bladder and urinary sphincter. This makes this technology particularly attractive in the prostate wherestructures such as the neurovascular bundle which supplies erections, the rectum and the sphincter are very close by. Furthermore, this energy source isextremely reliable in destroying the tissue irrespective of the nature of the tissue. Finally, this is arepeatable treatment whereas other therapies such as brachytherapy andradiotherapyare not.

How Is Focal IRE Done?

After a full workup to ensure that our patients are suitable for the program they then undergo a day surgery procedure which takes between 40 and 60 minutes. Depending on the extent of the cancer this may simply ablate the lesion, a quarter of the prostate or a half of the prostate. No prostate cancer cells are resistant to this treatment. Large areas can be treated with minimal side effects.

After the treatment patients stay in the day surgery unit for two to four hours and they are discharged home with a Foley catheter in place. Postoperatively pain is minimal and patients are discharged with tablets for mild pain, moderate pain, bladder spasms and relaxation of the prostate and antibiotics as required.

On day 2 a limited multiparametric MRI is performed. The Foley catheter is left in for two to five days depending on the extent of the treatment.

Inclusion Criteria

  • Focal Gleason large-volume Gleason 6 prostate cancer, Gleason 3+4=7 focal prostate cancer and select low-volume Gleason 4+3=7 focal prostate cancer.
  • PSA < 15
  • MRI identifiable tumour which correlates perfectly with targeted biopsies.
  • Template biopsies confirmed nosignificant prostate cancer outside of this region or outside of that side of the prostate.
  • Patient refuses standard therapies such as surgery, radiotherapy and brachytherapy.
  • Patientover 55 and preferably over 60.
  • Patient fit for general anaesthesia.
  • Patient accepts the need for ongoing monitoring.

We believe that this treatment is ideal for patients with limited cancer of intermediate grade (Gleason 3+4 or 4+3 or small Gleason 4+4 tumours). We do not believe that multifocal cancer or very high grade cancer should be treated with this focal therapy as the results of surgery, radiotherapy and brachytherapy in these more extensive cancers is much more established.

Followup

Three-monthly PSAs.

Quality of life questionnaires are offered from our research team.

Multiparametric MRI at six months.

Transperineal biopsy at 12 months.

Possible PSMA PET scanning if these studies are indeterminate.

Ongoing Active Surveillance

Patient Guide

To help patients better understand the significance of focal therapies, the NanoKnife© IRE treatment and for whom it is most suitable, we have prepared a patient guide in PDF format.

Please click this link to download the NanoKnife© IRE Patient Guide

Publications

  1. Initial assessment of safety and clinical feasibility of irreversible electroporation in the focal treatment of prostate cancer
    Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases 2014, 1-5
    Valerio M, Stricker P, Ahmed HU, Dickinson L, Ponsky L, Shnier R, Allen C, Emberton M
  2. Focal irreversible electroporation for prostate cancer: functional outcomes and short-term oncological control
    Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Disease (2016) 19, 46–52
    Ting F, Tran M, Bohm M, Siriwardana A, Van Leeuwen P, Haynes A, Delprado W, Shnier R, and Stricker P
  3. Step-by-Step Technique for Irreversible Electroporation of Focal Prostate Cancer: An Instructional Video Guide
    J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2016 Apr;27(4):568
    Ting F, Van Leeuwen PJ, Stricker P
  4. Feasibility and safety of focal irreversible electroporation as salvage treatment for localized radio-recurrent prostate cancer
    BJU Int. 2017 Nov;120 Suppl 3:51-58. doi: 10.1111/bju.13991. Epub 2017 Sep 19
    Scheltema MJ, van den Bos W, Siriwardana AR, Kalsbeek AMF, Thompson JE, Ting F, Böhm M, Haynes AM, Shnier R, Delprado W, Stricker PD
  5. Focal irreversible electroporation as primary treatment for localized prostate cancer
    van den Bos W, Scheltema MJ, Siriwardana AR, Kalsbeek AMF, Thompson JE, Ting F, Böhm M, Haynes AM, Shnier R, Delprado W, Stricker PD
    BJU Int. 2017 Aug 10. doi: 10.1111/bju.13983.
  6. Preliminary Diagnostic Accuracy of Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Detect Residual Prostate Cancer Following Focal Therapy with Irreversible Electroporation
    Eur Urol Focus. 2017 Nov 1. pii: S2405-4569(17)30244-4. doi: 10.1016/j.euf.2017.10.007. [Epub ahead of print]
    Scheltema MJ, Chang JI, van den Bos W, Böhm M, Delprado W, Gielchinsky I, de Reijke TM, de la Rosette JJ, Siriwardana AR, Shnier R, Stricker PD
  7. Pair-matched patient-reported quality of life and early oncological control following focal irreversible electroporation versus robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.
    World J Urol. 2018 36(9): 1383-1389. DOI: 10.1016/j.euro.2019.04.008.
    Scheltema, M. J., Chang, J. I., Bohm, M., van den Bos, W., Blazevski, A., Gielchinsky, I., Kalsbeek, A. M. F., van Leeuwen, P. J., Nguyen, T. V., de Reijke, T. M., Siriwardana, A. R., Thompson, J. E., de la Rosette, J. J., and Stricker, P. D
  8. Impact on genitourinary function and quality of life following focal irreversible electroporation of different prostate segments
    Diagn Interv Radiol. 2018, 24(5): 268-275. DOI: 10.5152/dir.2018.17374
    Scheltema, M. J., Chang, J. I., van den Bos, W., Gielchinsky, I., Nguyen, T. V., Reijke, T. M., Siriwardana, A. R., Bohm, M., de la Rosette, J. J., and Stricker, P. D
  9. Lab to Lithotomy – A history of irreversible electroporation from laboratory technique to prostate cancer treatment
    Journal of Urology, 2019, 201 (sup4): e254 -255. DOI: 10.1097/01.JU.0000555425.31060.d4
    Blazevski, A., Scheltema, M., Yuen, B., Cusick, T., Haynes, A.-M., and Stricker, P.
  10. Irreversible electroporation (IRE): a narrative review of the development of IRE from the laboratory to a prostate cancer treatment.
    BJUI Int. 2019. DOI: 10.1111/bju.14951
    Blazevski, A., Scheltema, M. J., Amin, A., Thompson, J. E., Lawrentschuk, N., and Stricker, P. D.
  11. Oncological and Quality-of-life Outcomes Following Focal Irreversible Electroporation as Primary Treatment for Localised Prostate Cancer: A Biopsy-monitored Prospective Cohort
    European Urology Oncology. 2019. DOI: 10.1016/j.euo.2019.04.008
    Blazevski, A., Scheltema, M. J., Yuen, B., Masand, N., Nguyen, T. V., Delprado, W., Shnier, R., Haynes, A. M., Cusick, T., Thompson, J., and Stricker, P.
  12. Numerical simulation modeling of the irreversible electroporation treatment zone for focal therapy of prostate cancer, correlation with whole-mount pathology and T2-weighted MRI sequences
    Therapeutic Advances in Urology. 2019. 11. DOI: 10.1177/1756287219852305
    Scheltema, M. J., O’Brien, T. J., van den Bos, W., de Bruin, D. M., Davalos, R. V., van den Geld, C. W. M., Laguna, M. P., Neal, R. E., Varkarakis, I. M., Skolarikos, A., Stricker, P. D., de Reijke, T. M., Arena, C. B., and de la Rosette, J.
  13. Blazevski A, Amin A, Scheltema MJ, Balakrishnan A, Haynes AM, Barreto D, Cusick T, Thompson J, Stricker PD. Focal ablation of apical prostate cancer lesions with irreversible electroporation (IRE). World J Urol.
    2021 Apr;39(4):1107-1114. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-020-03275-z  Epub 2020 Jun 2.
  14. Cussenot O, Stricker PD. Irreversible electroporation for patients with localised prostate cancer: Expert opinion on this versatile therapeutic approach. EMJ Urol. 2021 Aug:9[1]:56-62. https://www.emjreviews.com/urology/article/irreversible-electroporation-for-patients-with-localised-prostate-cancer-expert-opinion-on-this-versatile-therapeutic-approach-j180121
  15. Blazevski A, Gondoputro W, Scheltema MJ, Amin A, Geboers B, Barreto D, Haynes AM, Shnier R, Delprado W, Agrawal S, Thompson JE, Stricker PD. Salvage robot-assisted radical prostatectomy following focal ablation with irreversible electroporation: feasibility, oncological and functional outcomes. BMC Urol. 2022 Mar 2;22(1):28. doi: doi.org/10.1186/s12894-022-00978-w.
  16. Geboers B, Gondoputro W, Thompson JE, Reesink DJ, van Riel LAMJG, Zhang D, Blazevski A, Doan P, Agrawal S, Matthews J, Haynes AM, Liu Z, Delprado W, Shnier R, de Reijke TM, Lawrentschuk N, Stijns PEF, Yaxley JW, Scheltema MJ, Stricker PD. Diagnostic Accuracy of Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Detect Residual Prostate Cancer Following Irreversible Electroporation-A Multicenter Validation Study. Eur Urol Focus. 2022 May 13:S2405-4569(22)00106-7. doi: 10.1016/j.euf.2022.04.010. Epub ahead of print.
  17. van Riel LAMJG, Geboers B, Kabaktepe E, Blazevski A, Reesink DJ, Stijns P, Stricker PD, Casanova J, Dominguez-Escrig JL, de Reijke TM, Scheltema MJ, Oddens JR. Outcomes of salvage radical prostatectomy after initial irreversible electroporation treatment for recurrent prostate cancer. BJU Int. 2022 Apr 27. doi: 10.1111/bju.15759. Epub ahead of print.
  18. Ong S, Chen K, Grummet J, Yaxley J, Scheltema MJ, Stricker P, Tay KJ, Lawrentschuk N. Guidelines of guidelines: focal therapy for prostate cancer, is it time for consensus? BJU Int. 2022 Sep 9. doi: 10.1111/bju.15883. Epub ahead of print.
  19. Lantz A, Nordlund P, Falagario U, Jäderling F, Özbek O, Clements M, Discacciati A, Grönberg H, Eklund M, Stricker P, Emberton M, Aly M, Nordström T. Prostate Cancer IRE Study (PRIS): A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Focal Therapy to Radical Treatment in Localized Prostate Cancer. Eur Urol Open Sci. 2023 Apr 8;51:89-94. DOI: 10.1016/j.euros.2023.03.003. PMID: 37091033; PMCID: PMC10114162.
  20. Scheltema MJ, Katelaris A, Stricker PD. Salvage irreversible electroporation for radio-recurrent prostate cancer. Nat Rev Urol. 2023 Mar 1. DOI: 10.1038/s41585-023-00750-1. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36859611.

Presentations

  1. Stricker PD. Nanoknife focal therapy. Invited speaker. 3rd Friends of Israel Urological Symposium 5-7th July 2016. Tel-Aviv, Israel.
  2. Tran M, Jackson B, Boehm M, Haynes A-M, Stricker P, Irreversible Electroporation for Focal Prostate Cancer: Safety, Short-term Functional and Oncological Outcomes. Poster Presentation. 68th Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand Annual Scientific Meeting 11th – 19th April 2015, Adelaide, South Australia
  3. Van den Bos W, Stricker PD et al. Focal Therapy Using IRE in prostate cancer. Synergy Miami, November 2016. Miami Beach, Florida USA.
  4. Siriwardana A, van den Bos W, Kalsbeek A, Thompson J, Ting F, Boehm M, Haynes A, Shnier R, Delprado W and Stricker PD. Focal Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) as a primary and salvage treatment for localised prostate cancer. USANZ 2017 Annual Scientific Meeting 24-27th February 2017, Canberra, Australia
  5. Scheltema, MJ, van den Bos W, Siriwardana AR, Kalsbeek AMF. Thompson JE, Ting F, Bohm M, Haynes AM, Shnier R, Delprado W, Stricker PD. Focal Irreversible Electroporation as primary and salvage treatment for prostate cancer. 5th Global Congress on Prostate Cancer. 28 – 30 June 2017, Lisbon Portugal
  6. Scheltema MJ, Chang JI, van den Bos, Bohm M, Delprado W, Gielchinsky I, de Reijke TM, de la Rosette J, Sirawardana AR, Shnier R, Stricker PD. Diagnostic Accuracy of Mulitparametric Resonance Imaging Following Prostate Cancer Focal Therapy with Irreversible Electroporation. 93rd Annual Meeting Western Section of the American Urological Association, 6 -10 August 2017, Vancouver British Columbia Canada
  7. Scheltema MJ, Chang JI, van den Bos, Gielchinsky I, de Reijke TM, Sirawardana AR, Bohm M, de la Rosette J, Stricker PD. Genito-Urinary Function and Quality of Life after Focal Irreversible Electroporation of Different Prostate Segments. 93rd Annual Meeting Western Section of the American Urological Association, 6 -10 August 2017, Vancouver British Columbia Canada
  8. Scheltema MJ, Chang JI, Bohm B, van den Bos W, Gielchinsky I, Kalsbeek AF, van Leeuwen PJ, de Reijke TM, Siriwardana AR, de la Rosette JJ. Stricker PD. Pair-matched Patient-reported Quality of Life following Focal Irreversible Electroporation versus Robot-assisted Radical Prostatectomy. 37th Congress of the Societe Internationale d’Urologie. 19-22 October 2017, Lisbon Portugal.
  9. Stricker PD Focal Nanoknife Therapy Invited speaker Tolmar National Symposium
  10. Blazevski, A (On behalf of P Stricker) – Ideal framework for the introduction of Nanoknife – 38th Congress of the Société Internationale d’Urologie, 2018, Seoul, Korea
  11. Blazevski A, Yuen B, Scheltema MJ, Masand N, Haynes AM, Nguyen Q, Stricker P. Oncological Outcomes of Focal Irreversible Electroporation as Primary Treatment for Clinically Significant Localised Prostate Cancer. 38th Congress of the Société Internationale d’Urologie. 2018, Seoul, Korea
  12. Blazevski A, Yuen B, Scheltema MJ, Chang J, Masand N, Haynes AM, Nguyen Q, Stricker P. Is it time for prostate cancer’s lumpectomy? Focal irreversible electroporation (IRE) for localised clinically significant prostate cancer. 26th ASMR NSW ASM 2018
  13. Blazevski A, Pidsley R, Qu W, Norbie D, Luu L, Chang J, Yuen B, Scheltema MJ, Masand N, Haynes AM, Nguyen Q, Stirzaker C, Song J, Stricker P, Clark S. When Focal Therapy Fails for Localised Prostate Cancer – Can Epigenetics Predict Which Patients Fail and Improve Patient Selection? ANZUP ASM 8 – 10 July 2018. Sydney, Australia.
  14. Blazevski A, Yuen B, Scheltema MJ, Chang J, Masand N, Haynes AM, Nguyen Q, Stricker P. Focal irreversible electroporation as salvage treatment for localised radio-recurrent prostate cancer – Initial results and initiation of the FIRE trial. ANZUP ASM 8 – 10 July 2018. Sydney, Australia.
  15. Stricker P, Blazevski A, Scheltema MJ, Thompson J, Haynes AM, Nyguen Q, Chang, J, Yuen B. Oncological outcomes of irreversible electroporation (Nanoknife) for localised clinically significant prostate cancer at single Australia centre. 6th Edition Global Congress on Prostate Cancer (PROSCA 2018). 28 – 30 June 2018. Frankfurt, Germany
  16. Blazevski A, Yuen B, Scheltema MJ, Chang J, Masand N, Haynes AM, Nguyen Q, Stricker P. Is it time for prostate cancer’s lumpectomy? – Focal irreversible electroporation (IRE) for localised clinically significant prostate cancer. ASMR NSW Annual Scientific Meeting, June 2018. Sydney, Australia.
  17. Blazevski A, Yuen B, Scheltema MJ, Chang K, Masand N, Haynes AM, Nguyen Q, Stricker P. 5 years of Irreversible Electroporation (Nanoknife) for Localised Prostate Cancer. Asia-Pacific Prostate Conference 2018. Brisbane, Australia.
  18. Blazevski A, Stricker P. Where is the prostate cancer recurrence after radiation therapy? Implications for biopsy and focal salvage therapy. USANZ NSW Section Meeting. 1 – 3 November 2018. Cypress Lakes, Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia.
  19. Stricker, P – Key note speaker for salvage prostate cancer treatment – Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, 2018
  20. Stricker, P – Introduction of NanoKnife to Amsterdam – National Cancer Institute – 2018
  21. Blazevski A, Scheltema MJ, Yuen B, Masand N, Haynes AM, Cusick T, Stricker P. Focal Irreversible Electroporation for Radiorecurrent Prostate Cancer – Update on Current Results and Establishment of the FIRE trial. TROG Annual Scientific Meeting 2019. Melbourne, Australia
  22. Blazevski A, Scheltema MJ, Yuen B, Masand N, Haynes AM, Cusick T, Stricker P. Update on 12-Month Biopsy Proven Oncological and Functional Outcomes of Primary Irreversible Electroporation for Localised Prostate Cancer. USANZ Annual Scientific Meeting 2019. Brisbane, Queensland
  23. Blazevski A, Scheltema MJ, Yuen B, Masand N, Haynes AM, Cusick T, Stricker P. Salvage Irreversible Electroporation for Locally Recurrent Prostate Cancer after Radiotherapy – Oncological and Functional Outcomes. USANZ Annual Scientific Meeting 2019. Brisbane, Queensland
  24. Amin A, Blazevski A, Scheltema MJ, Thompson J, Stricker P. Salvage Radical Prostatectomy After Focal Irreversible Electroporation for Prostate Cancer: A Case Series Reporting Oncological Outcomes. Société International d’Urologie 2019 – Athens.
  25. Blazevski A, Scheltema MJ, Yuen B, Masand N, Haynes AM, Cusick T, Shnier R, Stricker P. Diagnostic accuracy of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging to detect residual prostate cancer following focal therapy with irreversible electroporation. AUA 2019 – Annual Scientific Meeting – Chicago.
  26. Blazevski A, Cusick T, Haynes AM, Stricker P. Evolution of Irreversible Electroporation into a prostate cancer treatment – From the laboratory to Urologists. AUA 2019 – Annual Scientific Meeting – Chicago.
  27. Blazevski A, Scheltema MJ, Yuen B, Masand N, Haynes AM, Cusick T, Stricker P. Salvage irreversible electroporation for locally recurrent prostate cancer after radiotherapy – Oncologic and functional outcomes. EAU 2019 – Annual Scientific Meeting – Barcelona.
  28. Blazevski A, Scheltema MJ, Yuen B, Masand N, Haynes AM, Cusick T, Stricker P. Update on 12-month biopsy-proven oncological and functional outcomes of primary irreversible electroporation for localised prostate cancer. EAU 2019 – Annual Scientific Meeting – Barcelona.
  29. Blazevski A, Scheltema MJ, Yuen B, Masand N, Haynes AM, Cusick T, Shnier R, Stricker P. Diagnostic accuracy of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging to detect residual prostate cancer following focal therapy with irreversible electroporation. EAU 2019 – Annual Scientific Meeting – Barcelona
  30. Blazevski A, Scheltema MJ, Yuen B, Masand N, Haynes AM, Cusick T, Shnier R, Stricker P. Diagnostic accuracy of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging to detect residual prostate cancer following focal therapy with irreversible electroporation. AUA 2019 – Annual Scientific Meeting – Chicago.
  31. Blazevski A, Cusick T, Haynes AM, Stricker P. Evolution of Irreversible Electroporation into a prostate cancer treatment – From the laboratory to Urologists. AUA 2019 – Annual Scientific Meeting – Chicago.
  32. Geboers B., Gondoputro W., Thompson J., Reesink D., Van Riel L., hang D., Blazevski A., Doan P., Agrawal S., Matthews J., Haynes A., Liu Z., Delprado W., Shnier R., Reijke T., Lawrentschuk N., Stijns P., Yaxley J., Scheltema M. & Stricker P. Diagnostic accuracy of mpMRI to detect residual prostate cancer following Irreversible electroporation – a multicenter validation study: Presentation EAU Amsterdam Jul 2022
  33. Van Riel et al, A0966: Safety and feasibility of salvage prostatectomy following primary IRE treatment for recurrent localised prostate cancer: an international and multicentre analysis: Presentation EAU Amsterdam Jul 2022

Focal IRE to Robotic Surgery Comparison

FOCAL IRE NERVE-SPARING ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGERY
Minimally invasive Keyhole surgery
Day surgery procedure One to two days in hospital
Two to five day Foley catheter Six-day Foley catheter
Minimal recovery Three to six-week recovery
Mild discomfort Mild to moderate pain
<1% Major Complications < 1% major complications
0% incontinence 1-2% ongoing incontinence
< 10% impotence rate 10-30% impotence (recovery period required)
Suitable for unifocal tumours Suitable for multifocal tumours
<20% recurrence rate PSA recurrence between 10 and 30% depending on the extent of the tumour
Can be repeated Cannot be repeated
Needs active ongoing surveillance

Conclusion

  • Focal IRE treatment for the treatment of localised prostate cancer is safe.
  • IRE is 97% effective in the eradication of the index lesion of the prostate.
  • There is a < 20% recurrence rate in the rest of the prostate at five years of follow-up.
  • IRE has low toxicity and lower common side effects compared to established treatments.
  • IRE is suitable for recurrences after radiation therapy.
  • Major complications have not occurred in our series of 330 patients with up to seven-year follow-up.
  • MRI is useful in the follow-up of patients however it misses between 10 and 20% of recurrences which can only be picked up by transperineal biopsy.
  • IRE ideally is used selectively in focal intermediate grade prostate cancer to avoid overtreatment by more conventional treatments
  • Multifocal intermediate and high-grade prostate cancer generally are much more serious conditions than focal intermediate grade prostate cancer and until IRE can be shown to have long term durable results these more serious cancers should be treated with conventional treatments including surgery, radiotherapy or brachytherapy.

Professor Phillip Stricker, St Vincent’s Clinic, St Vincent’s Prostate Cancer Centre, Garvan Institute, Kinghorn Cancer Centre.

Team: Alexander Blazevski MD, Brian Yuen MD, John Chang MD, Jayne Matthews, Angela Papazoglou, Anne-Marie Haynes, Matthijs Scheltema MD, Willemien Van Den Bos MD, , Amer Amin MD, Thomas Cusick, William Gondoputra MD

The NanoKnife© System has received FDA clearance and TGA clearance for the surgical ablation of soft tissue.