Prostate Cancer and the Rise of Focal Laser Therapies: A Narrative Review of Benefits and Limitations.

Introduction

Prostate cancer is the second most prevalent cancer in men and remains a major global health concern. Traditional treatment modalities such as radical prostatectomy (RP) and radiation therapy, while effective, often result in significant morbidity, including urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction.

Methods

A narrative review was conducted to synthesize current evidence on focal laser therapy for prostate cancer. A comprehensive literature search was performed across three major databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The search strategy employed the following Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and keywords: ("Prostatic Neoplasms" [MeSH] OR "prostate cancer") AND ("Laser Therapy" [MeSH] OR "laser ablation" OR "focal therapy"). The search was limited to studies published between 2000 and 2024.

Results

The initial search retrieved 1,444 articles. After a rigorous screening of titles, abstracts, and full-texts, 79 studies met the inclusion criteria and were incorporated into the review. The selected literature enables a comprehensive and critical evaluation of the current state of research on focal laser therapy in the management of prostate cancer.

Conclusion

While focal laser therapies offer promising outcomes with fewer side effects, their long-term efficacy and survival benefits remain uncertain. High-quality studies with long-term follow-up are essential to better define their role in the prostate cancer treatment landscape and inform optimal patient selection.