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Anyone have info about irreversible electroporation (IRE) treatment?

Posted by kmat @kmat, Aug 2, 2024

I've just come across a referencc to IRE, a kind of focal prostate treatment. Has anyone experience with it or information? Thanks.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

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WingNut | @ucfron | Jul 6 11:10am
In reply to @survivor5280 "I've read on here several people suggesting TULSA PRO. I did a deep dive on the..." + (show)
Profile picture for survivor5280 @survivor5280

I've read on here several people suggesting TULSA PRO. I did a deep dive on the procedure and there are certainly aspects of it that are more appealing that RALP or radiation.

In the course of learning about TULSA PRO, I came across a few articles that were quite critical of the process for a variety of reasons, one of which was the heat aspect of it and the impact it has on nearby tissue and other organs. In each of these articles they recommend IRE as a superior method of treatment - if you qualify for it.

Does anyone have experience with irreversible electroporation (IRE) that can speak to the results, recovery, side effect and such?

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Great to hear all is going well. I too wanted to do IRE and had a virtual with Dr Powsang of Moffitt. My condition and results were the same as yours. PSA 4.5, MRI guided biopsy found area of concern, 1 core of 12 found 3+4=7 in area of concern, PSMA PET and CT showed confined to one area of the Prostate. Seemed like I was a perfect condiate for focal IRE. Only difference was my area of concern is 2 cm which Dr Powsang said was too large to do focal due to desire to treat a halo around lesion. I was disappointed to hear focal wasn’t an option but glad I met with him and he gave me the truth. Looking at other options now like MRI Guided SBRT if I can find a location in Florida that does it. I don’t think Moffitt does.

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milburnd | @milburnd | Jul 6 12:57pm
In reply to @kyle13 "Where were they located? How many mm were they? Thank you for providing your experience." + (show)
Profile picture for kyle13 @kyle13

Where were they located?
How many mm were they?
Thank you for providing your experience.

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I'm not all that technical, so I'm attaching the MRI report that first identified the two tumors. I hope this is useful to you.

Shared files

MRI Prostate Summary (MRI-Prostate-Summary.pdf)

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milburnd | @milburnd | Jul 6 12:58pm
In reply to @ucfron "Great to hear all is going well. I too wanted to do IRE and had a..." + (show)
Profile picture for WingNut @ucfron

Great to hear all is going well. I too wanted to do IRE and had a virtual with Dr Powsang of Moffitt. My condition and results were the same as yours. PSA 4.5, MRI guided biopsy found area of concern, 1 core of 12 found 3+4=7 in area of concern, PSMA PET and CT showed confined to one area of the Prostate. Seemed like I was a perfect condiate for focal IRE. Only difference was my area of concern is 2 cm which Dr Powsang said was too large to do focal due to desire to treat a halo around lesion. I was disappointed to hear focal wasn’t an option but glad I met with him and he gave me the truth. Looking at other options now like MRI Guided SBRT if I can find a location in Florida that does it. I don’t think Moffitt does.

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Best wishes for finding the ideal solution for your circumstances!

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kyle13 | @kyle13 | Jul 6 2:07pm
In reply to @milburnd "I'm not all that technical, so I'm attaching the MRI report that first identified the two..." + (show)
Profile picture for milburnd @milburnd

I'm not all that technical, so I'm attaching the MRI report that first identified the two tumors. I hope this is useful to you.

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THANK YOU!!
So glad it worked out for you and your sexual function (which is my main concern with the procedure). 👍

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lsk1000 | @lsk1000 | Jul 6 4:24pm
In reply to @survivor5280 "I've read on here several people suggesting TULSA PRO. I did a deep dive on the..." + (show)
Profile picture for survivor5280 @survivor5280

I've read on here several people suggesting TULSA PRO. I did a deep dive on the procedure and there are certainly aspects of it that are more appealing that RALP or radiation.

In the course of learning about TULSA PRO, I came across a few articles that were quite critical of the process for a variety of reasons, one of which was the heat aspect of it and the impact it has on nearby tissue and other organs. In each of these articles they recommend IRE as a superior method of treatment - if you qualify for it.

Does anyone have experience with irreversible electroporation (IRE) that can speak to the results, recovery, side effect and such?

Jump to this post

Gleason 4+3 contained within prostate. Was supposed to get cryo, but surgeon made an audible call a to IRE.
IRE failed for me. But neither did a prostatectomy (Gleason 9) and salvage radiation afterwards. Cannot stop wondering if Cryo would have done better instead of the IRE.. Or if surgery would have succeeded if done first at the lower Gleason.

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mauk | @mauk | Aug 7 9:31pm

Has anyone gone through IRE as a focal therapy, recommended by my urologist, not a good candidate for HIFU? Trying to figure out If I should go for Brachytherapy or cyber-knife 3+4 7, PSA 1.47, Decipher .17 localized in prostrate 67 years

Appreciate any feedback

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gently | @gently | Aug 7 11:32pm
In reply to @mauk "Has anyone gone through IRE as a focal therapy, recommended by my urologist, not a good..." + (show)
Profile picture for mauk @mauk

Has anyone gone through IRE as a focal therapy, recommended by my urologist, not a good candidate for HIFU? Trying to figure out If I should go for Brachytherapy or cyber-knife 3+4 7, PSA 1.47, Decipher .17 localized in prostrate 67 years

Appreciate any feedback

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Hi, Mauk, I don't know if the five fraction MRI guided radiation would be right for you. It seems like a really good option that you might check out. https://www.youtube.com/watch Best luck.

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bens1 | @bens1 | Aug 8 4:55am
In reply to @mauk "Has anyone gone through IRE as a focal therapy, recommended by my urologist, not a good..." + (show)
Profile picture for mauk @mauk

Has anyone gone through IRE as a focal therapy, recommended by my urologist, not a good candidate for HIFU? Trying to figure out If I should go for Brachytherapy or cyber-knife 3+4 7, PSA 1.47, Decipher .17 localized in prostrate 67 years

Appreciate any feedback

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I agree with @gently At least look into a built in mri radiation machine i.e. MRIdian or the Elekta Unity

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brianjarvis | @brianjarvis | Aug 8 7:29am
In reply to @mauk "Has anyone gone through IRE as a focal therapy, recommended by my urologist, not a good..." + (show)
Profile picture for mauk @mauk

Has anyone gone through IRE as a focal therapy, recommended by my urologist, not a good candidate for HIFU? Trying to figure out If I should go for Brachytherapy or cyber-knife 3+4 7, PSA 1.47, Decipher .17 localized in prostrate 67 years

Appreciate any feedback

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I think you’ll find few (in the U.S.) that have had Irreversible electroporation (NanoKnife) for prostate cancer, because it doesn’t have FDA-approval for that purpose.
However, it does have “FDA clearance” for soft tissue ablation, including use in the prostate. You’ll have to see if that designation makes a difference with your doctor and insurance company as it relates to treating your prostate cancer.

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bjroc | @bjroc | Aug 8 8:03am
In reply to @mauk "Has anyone gone through IRE as a focal therapy, recommended by my urologist, not a good..." + (show)
Profile picture for mauk @mauk

Has anyone gone through IRE as a focal therapy, recommended by my urologist, not a good candidate for HIFU? Trying to figure out If I should go for Brachytherapy or cyber-knife 3+4 7, PSA 1.47, Decipher .17 localized in prostrate 67 years

Appreciate any feedback

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Most people if HIFU isn't the option for them, Tulsa pro is next option and a much more comprehensive option that isn't so limited in numbers of people who qualify. IRE sounds ok if done really well is all I know, when I was looking a few years ago I couldn't find much on it or which places did it really well because that is really important. Good luck, it is a complex time when picking through all the info out there.

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