Benefits of Prostatic Artery Embolization in Prostate Cancer Treatment

Prostatic Artery Embolization (PAE) is a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure designed to improve lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by restricting blood flow to the central aspect of the gland, resulting in relief of urethral pressure.

PAE proves beneficial in men who have prostate cancer by combining optimal LUTS improvement with maximal prostate volume reduction prior to radiation therapy. These changes create the potential for the duration of the radiation treatment plan to be shortened.

Dr. Nainesh Parikh, assistant chief medical officer and interventional radiologist at Moffitt Cancer Center, joined the BackTable Podcast to discuss patient outcomes following PAE in prostate cancer patients. Since starting the PAE program at Moffitt in 2017, he has performed around 300 PAE procedures.

In the podcast, Dr. Parikh outlines clinical scenarios where PAE resulted in clinical improvement for prostate cancer patients prior to definitive radiation therapy. He also discusses new frontiers in prostate cancer such as the role of PAE in men who have LUTS but will be undergoing focal therapy (e.g. high-intensity focused ultrasound or cryotherapy), and in men who have radiation-induced prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

Watch the full podcast below.

If you’d like to refer a patient to Moffitt Cancer Center, complete our online form or contact a physician liaison for assistance. As part of our efforts to shorten referral times as much as possible, online referrals are typically responded to within 24 - 48 hours.