UCLA

The introduction of nerve-sparing technique is one of the most significant advances in the surgical treatment of prostate cancer and heralded a shift from a curing cancer at all-cost model to a curing cancer and preserving quality of life model. In a recent article published in Lancet Oncology in May, Lee et al. reviewed the concept of vessel-sparing and functional anatomy-based radiotherapy as well as outcomes with respect to erectile dysfunction, bringing to light a conceptual shift in the management of localized prostate cancer with radiotherapy, which parallels the shift in the surgical management of prostate cancer with the introduction of nerve-sparing technique. The hypothesis is that utilization of vessel-sparing and functional anatomy-based radiotherapy may result in a more personalized approach to this modality based on a patient's specific anatomy, therefore improving patient outcomes.