Biochemical Assessment of Cancer Outcomes Following Focal Therapy

Focal therapy (FT) plays an emerging role in the management of patients with localized prostate cancer. Nevertheless, limited data are available regarding the biochemical assessment in the post-FT setting. In this chapter, we reviewed the latest evidence on the role of biomarkers following FT. Several biomarkers have been studied in this context, with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) being the most recommended tool. Expert panels recommend regular PSA checks following FT. Variables such as PSA nadir and percentage of PSA reduction can help in assessing treatment success/failure and predict oncological outcomes. Nevertheless, there is no consensus regarding the definition of biochemical recurrence after FT.