By Blake Belden  

VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center is the first site in Virginia to offer a form of noninvasive robotic ultrasound treatment for early- to intermediate-stage prostate cancer patients. The innovative technology — high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) — harnesses high-intensity ultrasound waves to target cancerous prostate tissue, without any invasive surgery or radiation.  

Using real-time imaging to focus these waves on the affected area, HIFU initiates localized heating to destroy the tumor cells within the prostate gland without harming surrounding healthy tissue, offering improved quality of life for many patients. HIFU works in the same way as rays of sunlight that pass through a magnifying glass and are concentrated at a single point, equally causing a significant temperature to rise around the focal point. 

“We are excited to offer HIFU as an ideal treatment option for many patients suffering from prostate cancer,” said Alexander Kenigsberg, M.D., director of urologic oncology at Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center and VCU Health. “Our patients’ wellness and quality of life beyond their treatment is paramount, and this same-day non-invasive outpatient procedure offers precision treatment for cancer while minimizing side effects.” 

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the U.S., according to the National Cancer Institute. 

In a large study of more than 3,000 patients at 46 cancer centers, HIFU was proven to treat prostate tumors as effectively as radical prostatectomy, while significantly reducing any negative impact on functional outcomes, including those related to urinary continence and erectile function.  

This one-day, personalized procedure takes approximately one hour, sparing a patient from surgery or any cuts on their body and allowing them to return home on the same day. After the procedure, a patient will need to wear a catheter for about five days. It is a repeatable procedure if needed, but only about 25% of patients require a second treatment. The vast majority of patients are able to avoid prostate removal or radiation. 

Typical follow-up care after the HIFU procedure will include prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing at three months, six months and one year, as well as an MRI and potential additional biopsies at one year to evaluate the results. 

“There is a large subset of men with prostate cancer who are being overtreated with prostatectomy or radiation therapy,” Kenigsberg said. “This treatment would provide many of those men with an opportunity to avoid those options.” 

Along the Atlantic Coast, Massey is the only institution between North Carolina and Philadelphia to offer this multidisciplinary treatment option using the cutting-edge Focal One Robotic HIFU platform. 

Robotic HIFU is available at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center’s downtown Richmond location. Learn more about this treatment option on our website or call (804) 828-7999.

A version of this story was originally published by VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center.