New Australian prostate cancer treatment shows little side effects in first trial

A ground-breaking prostate cancer treatment that aims to target tumours without as many side effects has showed promising results in Australia.

The research, conducted by the University of Western Australia, the University of Sydney, the University of Queensland and Nepean Hospital in NSW, tested ProFocal laser therapy — a new pinpoint laser treatment that targets the cancer cells while saving healthy tissue.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer nationwide, with more than 26,000 cases diagnosed in Australia in 2024 equating to an estimated 98 cases per 100,000 people in WA.

Patients with grade two or three prostate cancer are typically advised to undergo treatments, which can damage their whole prostate rather than specifically targeting the cancer.

The damage often leads to long-term side effects, including incontinence and erectile dysfunction.

In this latest trial of 100 patients, 84 per cent showed no clinically significant prostate cancer three months after their treatment and fewer side effects were recorded.

Around 12 per cent of men reported erectile dysfunction as an adverse effect while there was a 4.5 per cent decline in urinary function.

“This new technology is very promising with excellent cancer control while preserving patients’ quality of life,” said Nepean Hospital corresponding author Jonathan Kam.

“With this new technology, patients can have their prostate cancer treated with very low risk of suffering the side effects associated with traditional prostate cancer treatments.”

The research concluded that long-term follow up of the patients was required to assess whether the cancer returned or if they suffered any side effects.