US HIFU, a minimally invasive high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) technologies company and manufacturer of the Sonablate 500  medical device, has results from the first-ever prospective clinical investigation of HIFU with the Sonablate to focally treat prostate cancer, a modality in which only the confirmed cancerous regions within the gland are treated as opposed to the entire prostate.

Researchers at University College London and clinicians at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH), backed by US HIFU and eight U.K. partner organizations conducted the ethics-approved, independently audited study to determine the effectiveness of focal Sonablate HIFU at reducing side effects such as impotence and incontinence.

Trial investigators treated 20 patients with low- and medium-risk disease by delivering HIFU energy to the side of the prostate affected by cancer. Patients returned regularly for follow-up testing for one year following treatment. Study results showed reduced harmful side effects and positive cancer control.

Study authors concluded that the results were sufficiently promising to support the further evaluation of focal therapy. A larger, multi-center study involving more than 120 patients across the U.K. will determine whether the findings are reproducible.