A multicenter clinical study in Austria has demonstrated that a highly precise ultrasound-based approach can effectively target and treat early-stage prostate cancer while preserving patients’ quality of life. Tumor control succeeded in most participants, with urinary and sexual function largely maintained. Conducted across three hospitals and coordinated by Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences (KL Krems), this study marks Austria’s first prospective, multicenter evaluation of this organ-preserving therapy. The findings signal a promising alternative to whole-gland surgery or radiotherapy for carefully selected patients.
Understanding the Need for Organ-Preserving Treatment
Prostate cancer remains one of the most common cancers in men. Although radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy effectively eliminate tumors, they often lead to side effects such as urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Focal therapy offers a different strategy: instead of treating the entire gland, doctors target only the cancerous region.
In high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy, clinicians heat and ablate the tumor under MRI and real-time ultrasound guidance with millimeter precision. Until recently, the European Association of Urology considered this approach experimental due to limited prospective data. This new study from KL Krems and partner hospitals in St. Pölten, Baden, and Korneuburg fills that evidence gap and strengthens support for the technique.
Tailored Cancer Treatment With Millimeter Precision
“Instead of removing or irradiating the entire prostate gland, we treat only the diseased area using MRI and real-time ultrasound guidance,” explained Dr. Gábor Rosta and Prof. Dr. Harun Fajkovic from the University Hospital St. Pölten. “Our results show that this focused approach can control cancer in selected patients while significantly reducing the side effects of conventional treatments.”
As per the press release, the study, designed as a prospective phase II feasibility trial, enrolled 51 men with newly diagnosed, localized prostate cancer of low or intermediate risk (PSA ≤ 15 ng/mL, stage ≤ T2). Between 2021 and 2024, each participant underwent MRI-guided, lesion-specific HIFU ablation. Researchers followed the men for two years using quarterly PSA tests, MRI scans at 12 and 24 months, and follow-up biopsies.
Strong Cancer Control and Mild Side Effects
After two years, more than 94% of the men did not require any additional therapy. Follow-up biopsies one year after treatment showed that over 80% had no viable tumor tissue. PSA levels declined by 69% within three months and remained stable throughout the study.
Side effects were mild and short-lived. About 20% of participants experienced temporary obstructive or irritative urinary symptoms, and no severe complications occurred.
Quality-of-Life Outcomes Remain Strong
Functional and patient-reported outcomes further supported the benefits of focal HIFU. Erectile function, measured using the five-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), dipped slightly after treatment but returned to baseline within 6–12 months. Two years later, erectile scores surpassed pre-treatment levels.
Men who had normal urinary function maintained it, while those with pre-existing urinary issues saw significant improvement. Overall health-related quality-of-life scores (SF-36) remained stable across all domains.
A Step Toward Personalized and Organ-Preserving Cancer Care
These results confirm earlier single-center findings from Europe and North America while offering the first coordinated assessment of focal HIFU within Austria’s hospital network. The authors note that the therapy can be safely integrated into standard clinical practice with appropriate patient selection and precise execution. However, they also stress the importance of longer-term studies and randomized trials before the method can be fully adopted into clinical guidelines.
Still, the study points to a potential paradigm shift — toward organ-preserving cancer treatments that allow patients to minimise side effects without compromising tumor control.
Advancing Personalized Medicine at KL Krems
The research aligns with KL Krems’s mission to advance human health through interdisciplinary science, particularly in oncology and clinically applied innovation. It also supports the institution’s vision of delivering more personalised, less invasive treatment options for patients.