NanoKnife Prostate Cancer Treatment
Focal Prostate Cancer Treatment with NanoKnife
NanoKnife, also known as irreversible electroporation or IRE, is a focal treatment for prostate cancer. Instead of removing or irradiating the whole prostate, it uses short, high-voltage electrical pulses to destroy a precisely targeted area of cancerous tissue while leaving the surrounding nerves, blood vessels and urinary structures intact.
At Modern Care Clinic the procedure is performed by Dr Fouad El Khoury, consultant urologist, under general anaesthetic and with imaging guidance.
- Targets the tumour, not the whole prostate
- No radiation and no thermal damage
- Imaging-guided needle placement
- Usually a day-case procedure
- Performed under general anaesthetic
- Lower risk to urinary continence
- Lower risk to erectile function
- Does not rule out later treatment
- Can be repeated if required
- For localised, well-mapped tumours
Is NanoKnife right for you?
NanoKnife is not suitable for every man with prostate cancer, and it does not replace surgery or radiotherapy in every case. It is generally considered for localised disease where the tumour has been accurately mapped by MRI and targeted biopsy, and where the cancer has not spread beyond the prostate.
It is important to be clear about the evidence. NanoKnife has a good safety record, and short-term results are encouraging, particularly for preserving urinary and sexual function. Long-term cancer-control data over ten years and beyond are still being gathered, and focal therapy is not yet standard first-line treatment in international guidelines. Any clinic presenting it as a guaranteed cure is overstating what is currently known.
The right approach is an honest assessment of your MRI, biopsy results and PSA, followed by a discussion of every option including robotic prostatectomy and radiotherapy. Book a consultation to discuss your case.
NanoKnife - Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the questions patients most often ask about NanoKnife at Modern Care. An MRI, targeted biopsy and consultation are required before this treatment can be recommended.
What is NanoKnife and how does it work?
NanoKnife delivers short, high-voltage electrical pulses between fine needles placed around the tumour. The pulses create permanent microscopic pores in the cancer cell membranes, which causes those cells to die. The body then clears them naturally. Because the effect is electrical rather than thermal, the collagen scaffolding, nerves and blood vessels in the treated area are largely preserved.
How is NanoKnife different from surgery or radiotherapy?
Radical prostatectomy removes the entire prostate and radiotherapy treats the whole gland. NanoKnife treats only the part of the prostate containing the cancer. That is the reason for its lower reported impact on continence and erections, but it also means it is only appropriate when the disease is confined and accurately located.
Who is a suitable candidate?
Suitability depends on the stage and grade of the cancer, the PSA level, and how clearly the tumour can be seen on MRI and confirmed on targeted biopsy. It is generally considered for localised, intermediate-risk disease in one part of the gland. Men with cancer throughout the prostate or with spread beyond it are usually better served by other treatments.
Does NanoKnife cause incontinence or erectile dysfunction?
The risk is lower than with whole-gland treatment, because the urinary sphincter and the nerve bundles responsible for erections can often be avoided. It is not zero. Temporary urinary symptoms are common in the first weeks, and some men notice a change in erectile function. Your individual risk depends on where the tumour sits relative to those structures.
How long does the procedure take and will I stay overnight?
The procedure itself typically takes one to two hours under general anaesthetic. Many patients go home the same day, though an overnight stay is sometimes arranged. A urinary catheter is usually left in place for a short period, often a few days.
What is recovery like?
Most men are back to light activity within a few days and to normal routine within one to two weeks. Some blood in the urine or semen is expected initially. Heavy lifting and strenuous exercise are avoided for a few weeks.
How is the result monitored afterwards?
Follow-up combines PSA testing with MRI, and a targeted biopsy of the treated area is usually performed at around twelve months. This matters, because focal therapy leaves prostate tissue behind, so ongoing surveillance is part of the treatment rather than an optional extra.
What happens if the cancer comes back?
One of the practical advantages of focal therapy is that it does not close off other options. If cancer recurs in the treated area or appears elsewhere in the prostate, further NanoKnife, surgery or radiotherapy can still be considered.