Prostate / Laser Focal Therapy

Laser Focal Therapy*

Using Laser Focal Therapy (Focal Laser Ablation)

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Laser Focal Therapy (LFT) Prostate Cancer Surgery

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We use Laser Focal Therapy (focal laser ablation) for the treatment of low-to-intermediate prostate cancer. This laser focal therapy can also be used to help improve the symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

This procedure involves placing the patient inside the MRI scanner and displaying MRI images and thermal maps on a computer screen. A thin laser fiber is guided to the tumor and laser energy is applied to ablate, or kill, cancer cells.

*International experts agree that most focal therapy techniques remain investigational and should be performed under IRB-approved protocol and/or contribute to an IRB-approved registry – the HALO way.

The temperature and the extent of the ablation zone are constantly monitored with MRI imaging, allowing HALO Dx clinicians to determine if all visible tumors have been destroyed.

Laser Focal Therapy has demonstrated hugely successful results2:

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Committed to Progress

Dr. John F. Feller, Chief Medical Officer at HALO Diagnostics, recently presented 13-year results from our phase II clinical trial of laser focal therapy for prostate cancer. The results are impressive.2

100%

Prostate cancer survival rate.

< 1%

Erectile dysfunction compared to ~50% with whole gland prostatectomy.

< 1%

Incontinence compared to over 25% risk with whole gland prostatectomy.

< 1%

Infection compared to 4% with whole gland prostatectomy.

2 Feller JF, Greenwood BM, Jones W, Gunberg S, Herz JJ, Toth RJ. MP25-04: 13-Year Interim Results for Transrectally Delivered, Outpatient MRI-Guided Laser Focal Therapy of Prostate Cancer in a Treatment Naive Cohort. J Urol. 2024;211(5S):e404. Presented at the American Urological Association Annual Meeting, May 4, 2024.

Dr. John F. Feller

Dr. John F. Feller

Research

Clinical Trials & Publications

Active, not recruiting · NCT02243033

Phase II Laser Focal Therapy of Prostate Cancer

A 20-year observational study evaluating outpatient MRI-guided laser focal therapy in men 45–90 with biopsy-confirmed, localized prostate cancer. Sponsored by HALO Diagnostics.

Location: Desert Medical Imaging, Indian Wells, CA. Principal Investigator: John F. Feller, MD. Study Director: Bernadette M. Greenwood, MSc.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov

Completed · NCT03373006

Axumin PET/CT for Risk Stratification

A Phase II study evaluating Axumin (fluciclovine F 18) PET/CT to assess for metastatic disease in men undergoing laser focal therapy, helping determine which patients are appropriate candidates for a focal therapy cohort. Sponsored by HALO Diagnostics.

Location: Desert Medical Imaging, Indian Wells, CA. Enrollment: 20 participants. Principal Investigator: John F. Feller, MD. Study Director: Bernadette M. Greenwood, MSc.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov

van Luijtelaar A, Greenwood BM, Ahmed HU, et al. Focal laser ablation as clinical treatment of prostate cancer: report from a Delphi consensus project. World J Urol. 2019;37(10):2147–2153. doi:10.1007/s00345-019-02636-7

See all HALO clinical research →

Advantages

of Laser Focal Therapy (Focal Laser Ablation) Surgery for Prostate Cancer Treatment

Icon Minimally Invasive

Minimally Invasive

Minimally invasive, ambulatory outpatient procedure – usually a 4 hour procedure.

Icon Rapid Recovery

Rapid Recovery

Most patients can return to work the next day.*

Icon No Anesthesia

No Anesthesia

No general anesthesia required.

Icon Improved Urination

Improved Urination

Vast majority of men have improved urination after the procedure.*

Icon Lower Risk

Lower Risk of Side Effects

Lower risk of side effects such as urinary incontinence, impotence and decreased bowel function compared to surgery or radiation therapy.

Icon Improved Accuracy

Improved Accuracy

Better accuracy compared with other focal approaches, e.g. High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU).

Icon No Limitations

No Limitations

Unlike other treatments, focal laser therapy does not limit the option to treat with radiation therapy or surgery if needed later.

Radical Prostatectomy and Other Traditional Prostate Cancer Treatment Procedures Can Have Severe & Permanent Side Effects

  • 50% risk of erectile dysfunction (impotence).
  • 25% risk of urinary incontinence.
  • Dry orgasm.
  • 20-40% cancer recurrence within 10 years, 30-50% cancer recurrence during patient’s lifetime.

Invented by Bernadette M. Greenwood, RT(R)(MR)(ARRT), PhD(c) — Refined at HALO

Laser Focal Therapy

In 2010, the team of Bernadette M. Greenwood, RT(R)(MR)(ARRT), PhD(c), Chief Research Officer at HALO Diagnostics, and Roger McNichols, PhD, developed the system to perform Laser Focal Therapy. The first case in the world was performed by the HALO Diagnostics team of Dr. John F. Feller, Ms. Greenwood, and Dr. McNichols in 2010.

HALO Diagnostics released interim 13-year results from its Phase II 20-year clinical trial for prostate laser focal therapy in patients with localized prostate cancer. Over 170 men, 45-years or older diagnosed with low-to-intermediate risk or recurrent prostate cancer, volunteered to participate in the study. The results are impressive: less than 1% infection, less than 1% erectile dysfunction and less than 1% incontinence – compared to conventional whole gland prostatectomy which has a risk of up to 50% erectile dysfunction and 25% urinary incontinence. These results, along with a 100% prostate cancer-specific survival rate, are an encouraging development for men looking for a prostate cancer therapy option with a lower risk of side effects.

Patient Testimonials

Featured Patient Testimonial: Dr. Terry Higgins

After receiving a prostate cancer diagnosis, Dr. Terry Higgins’ urologist warned him of the risk of side effects of standard-of-care prostate cancer treatments like a radical prostatectomy, which carries a 50% chance of causing erectile dysfunction, and a 25% chance of causing incontinence.

At just 53-years-old, those were odds that Dr. Higgins was not willing to accept. Dr. Higgins’ urologist then told him about laser focal therapy, a minimally invasive prostate cancer treatment pioneered by HALO Diagnostics.

Now a few years in remission, Dr. Higgins shared his story.

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Featured Patient Testimonial: Dr. David Mantik

“As a physician speaking to a patient, I have on a number of occasions disclosed to them that I myself had prostate cancer and actually had this procedure and I highly recommend it for the appropriate candidates.”

Dr. David Mantik is a radiation oncologist. For more than 40 years, he’s specialized in the use of radiation therapy to treat patients with prostate cancer.

However, at the age of 79 when he noticed his PSA (prostate-specific antigen) score was rising, Dr. Mantik went to see Dr. John F. Feller. Now in remission, Dr. Mantik shared why he chose laser focal therapy over radiation treatment for his prostate cancer.

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Featured Patient Testimonial: Tom’s Story

“I just felt like the technology and the skill level of HALO Dx was light years ahead of what was here available to me locally and that’s why I made the choice to go down there. It just seems like a rational, logical alternative that you don’t have to be a doctor to be able to appreciate.”

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Laser Focal Therapy: What to Expect

Here when you need us most

You will receive both email and phone contact information for our medical team so that you can always reach us. In addition, we conduct a pre-operative consultation prior to the procedure, we meet the day of the procedure, and will see you frequently in follow-up.

Before Your Procedure

Our team will have collected and reviewed your medical records to evaluate you for inclusion and suitability. Our surgical team will have discussed your case during Tumor Board and conducted a surgical plan based on size, number, shape and location of ablation areas. Prior to the procedure, we will review the Informed Consent Document with you to ensure you understand every aspect of the procedure. We will discuss the risk, benefits, and paperwork of the procedure.

Day of Your Procedure

The day of the procedure, our nurse will place an intravenous catheter (IV) in your arm so that she/he can administer IV antibiotics, pain medications and fluids (to maintain hydration). Should other medications be necessary, they will be administered through this IV as well.

You may have a urinary catheter placed so that we can provide cooled urethral saline through Continuous Bladder Irrigation (CBI) protection. This catheter remains in place depending on the size, shape, and location of treatment. Our urologist will perform the insertion and removal.

Patients are positioned on their stomach on the MRI table for the procedure. A small rectal probe (the diameter of an index finger in width) covered in numbing lidocaine jelly to allow access to the prostate. We use the transrectal route for laser fiber placement. This is minimally invasive (compared to thermocouples and transperineal needles), with fewer complications and less recurrence. Technical errors due to misregistration are also less frequent with transrectal fiber placement under MRI guidance.

During the procedure, we will use real-time MRI to visualize the target, guide placement of the laser fiber, and ablate (destroy) cancer cells or for either cancer or BPH (an overgrown transitional zone) while protecting healthy tissue with “safety cursors” that are positioned at the urethra and neurovascular bundle. This helps monitor sensitive structures to decrease risk of damage to urinary and sexual function.

After Your Procedure

Patients will return home or to their hotel room after at least two hours in the recovery room that same day. They must be accompanied by a family member or care giver as driving is not permitted.

We see each patient again according to our rigorous follow-up protocol. This includes follow up MRI, biopsy if indicated and PSA monitoring.

At HALO Dx we are mindful of the patient experience and acceptance of the technology. We do not offer endorectal coil for MRI for the same reasons, instead, we offer a high channel-count phased array pelvic coil. This surface coil is used for both diagnostic prostate imaging and allows access for biopsy and therapy.

Lft What To Expect Jogger

Explore the Prostate Program

Screening, Diagnosis & Treatment

Screening

PSA, PSA density, liquid biopsy, and mpMRI for comprehensive early detection.

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Diagnosis

MRI-guided biopsy for a precise, accurate prostate cancer diagnosis.

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TULSA-Pro

Transurethral ultrasound ablation for prostate cancer and BPH.

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Active Surveillance

Confident monitoring of slower-growing cancers with mpMRI.

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BPH Treatment

Precision treatment options for benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate).

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Prostate Program Overview

Early detection and the HALO PathWay™ for prostate.

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Early detection saves lives. Let’s start with yours.

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