Duke Urology Remains a Leader in Focal Therapy of Urologic Cancers

Focal therapy of urologic cancers has been a strong interest of Duke Urology faculty for the past 15 years. Clinical trials in prostate cancer have been prominently supported and novel approaches developed for prostate and kidney cancers specifically.
 
Multiple energy sources are currently employed for focal therapy of prostate cancer. Uniquely positioned to lead this developing cancer treatment strategy, Duke Urology now offers the three most prominent technologies for focal therapy of prostate cancer: Cryotherapy (Dr. Thomas Polascik), High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) (Dr. Cary Robertson and Dr. Michael Rothberg) and Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) (Dr. Michael Rothberg and Dr. Thomas Polascik). In addition, Duke Urology has been a significant participant in clinical trials of newly developing technologies for prostate cancer focal therapy (HIFU, IRE) and most recently steam vapor therapy.   
 
Founded by Duke Urology Distinguished Professor Thomas J. Polascik, MD, the Focal Therapy Society (FTS) has grown tremendously around the world since its inception in 2008. Duke Urology faculty have contributed significantly to the development and growth of the FTS. Recent leadership positions are listed below. The FTS is the leading society exploring options for focal treatments of prostate cancer. 
 
Duke Urology faculty recently participated in the scientifically stimulating and full of camaraderie 15th International Symposium on Focal Therapy and Imaging for Prostate and Kidney Cancer North America hosted in Washington D.C. September 19 to 21, 2024. This was a joint meeting with the Society of Urologic Robotic Surgery (SURS) and the Focal Therapy Society. This meeting also included an open forum with the FDA regarding urologic device approval processes and strategies for clinical trial development.
 
Filled with live surgery, hands-on training, AI, and expert panel discussion, presentations included Duke Urology faculty, fellows, residents, and research fellows.
 
Congratulations to Mahdi Mottaghi, MD, for receiving the 2024 FTS & SURS Joint Meeting FTS Best Poster Award for "Long-term oncological and functional outcomes of cryoablation of small renal masses: 20-year follow-up results of a single institutional experience" and for his work with Dr. Polascik. Congratulations to Brian Calio, MD, and Tara Morgan, MD, for receiving the 2024 FTS & SURS Joint Meeting SURS Best Poster Award for “Simple prostatectomy followed by radiation therapy for prostate cancer: a novel treatment pathway/proof of concept”. Sriram Deivasigamani, MBBS, received the Rising Star in FTS 2024 Focal Therapy Award for his work with Dr. Polascik.
 
Current participation in FTS leadership and the recent 15th FTS meeting presentations are listed below:
 
Focal Therapy Society leadership:

• Founder and Past President, Thomas J Polascik, MD, FACS
• Board of Directors, Cary Robertson, MD

 
Society of Urologic Robotic Surgeons leadership:

• Board of Directors, Website Committee, Tara Morgan, MD 

Duke Urology presentations:

• Poster Presenter - Brian Calio, Rafeal Tua Caraccia, Daniel Segal, Joshua Kim, Neil Desai, Jeffrey Gahan, Tara Morgan. Simple prostatectomy followed by radiation therapy for prostate cancer: a novel treatment pathway/proof of concept.
• Poster Presenter - Alireza Ghoreifi, Niranjan Nayar, Erika Wood, Amir Lebastchi. 3D ultrasound-guided ablation of anterior prostate cancer tumors using irreversible electroporation and cryotherapy.
• Poster Presenter - Mahdi Mottaghi, Sriram Deivasigamani, Thomas J Polascik. Long-term oncological and functional outcomes of cryoablation of small renal masses: 20-year follow-up results of a single institutional experience.
• Speaker Sriram Deivasigamani. Role of whole gland treatment in contemporary practice.
• Speaker Tara Morgan. Tumor excision techniques.
• Session Moderator Tara Morgan. SURS robotic kidney surgery.
• Panelist Tara Morgan. NARUS sponsored session for live surgeries.
• Speaker Michael Rothberg. Combinational treatment in focal therapy.
• Speaker Michael Rothberg. Year in review for focal therapy – 3 most pivotal papers of 2023-24.
• Session Moderator Thomas J Polascik. FTS tumor board in focal therapy.
• Speaker Thomas J Polascik. FTS registry update/FTS publications for the past year.
• Poster coauthor Thomas J Polascik. Global Delphi consensus on best clinical practices for transperineal prostate biopsy.
• Session Moderator Cary Robertson. FTS – Perspective. 

Focal Therapy Society information is available at focaltherapy.org.
 
For more information about Duke Urology offerings in focal therapy of urologic cancers, contact Duke Urology at 919-668-8108 to inquire about clinic appointments.