Is salvage prostate cryotherapy effective?

Unlike hormones, cryotherapy is a curative (can cure cancer) treatment for patients who have recurrent prostate cancer (i.e. failed radiation).

There have been several studies reviewing the results of salvage cryotherapy. The largest series, following 279 patients, reports 55% of patients are free of prostate cancer after 2 years.

Another study has reported biochemical disease-free rates of 59-69% after 7 years.

Most studies have shown patient selection is an important predictor of treatment success. The most commonly agreed upon predictors of treatment success are as follows:

• PSA < 10ng/ml
• Gleason <8
• Clinical stage T1c or T2 before salvage therapy