| Abstract [eng] |
This master's thesis provides a comprehensive review of the scientific literature dedicated to the analysis of focal therapy as an alternative treatment for prostate cancer. The paper evaluates the potential of this method to ensure oncological disease control while simultaneously minimizing complications and preserving patients' quality of life. Focal therapy is defined in this work as a minimally invasive method based on the principles of precision medicine, aimed at destroying clinically significant prostate cancer lesions while sparing the surrounding healthy prostate tissue. The thesis reviews the historical development of this treatment, the evolution of procedural techniques, and the role of imaging diagnostics—particularly multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI)—and targeted biopsy. The thesis examines in detail the main methods of focal therapy: high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), cryotherapy, laser ablation, photodynamic therapy, and others. Each technique is evaluated through the lens of its mechanism of action, clinical efficacy, and safety. A comparative analysis with standard treatment methods (radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy) indicates that for appropriately selected patients, focal therapy can offer comparable oncological outcomes while allowing for better functional results (preservation of erectile function and urinary continence) and a lower rate of complications. Nevertheless, the study also identifies the challenges associated with this method: a lack of long-term studies, the complexity of monitoring for recurrence, and technical barriers to precise application. In conclusion, focal therapy is recognized as a promising approach that requires further clinical trials and the implementation of standardized protocols. |
