A 10-Second Steam Blast: The New Weapon Against Prostate Cancer?
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| Vanquish® Water Vapor Ablation System, |
Francis Medical Steams Out Prostate Cancer
The Vanquish® Water Vapor Ablation System, developed by Francis Medical, Inc., represents an innovative approach to treating prostate cancer using water vapor (steam) to ablate cancerous tissue. This minimally invasive technique aims to target and destroy prostate cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue, potentially reducing common side effects associated with traditional treatments like surgery and radiation,
Mechanism of Action:
The Vanquish system utilizes the thermal energy stored in sterile water vapor to ablate cancerous prostate tissue. During the procedure, a catheter is inserted through the urethra into the prostate, delivering water vapor directly to the targeted tissue. As the vapor condenses back into liquid, it releases stored thermal energy, effectively destroying the cancerous cells. This method is designed to respect the prostate's natural boundaries, potentially preserving surrounding structures and reducing the risk of side effects such as erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence.
Clinical Trials and Research:
Several clinical trials are currently evaluating the safety and efficacy of the Vanquish Water Vapor Ablation System:
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VAPOR 2 Study: This prospective, multicenter, single-arm study aims to assess the safety and effectiveness of the Vanquish system in patients with localized intermediate-risk prostate cancer. The trial is being conducted at multiple institutions, including NYU Langone Health and Froedtert Hospital
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VAPOR 1 Study: Earlier studies, such as VAPOR 1, have provided preliminary data suggesting that water vapor ablation may offer a favorable side effect profile compared to traditional treatments. For instance, early data indicated minimal risk of urinary and sexual side effects commonly associated with surgery and radiation.
Recent Developments:
In January 2025, Francis Medical announced the successful completion of an $80 million Series C equity financing round. This funding is intended to support the VAPOR 2 study and facilitate the U.S. launch of the Vanquish system, indicating significant progress in bringing this innovative treatment to a broader patient population.
FDA Designation:
.The Vanquish system has received Breakthrough Device Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).This designation is granted to devices that offer significant advantages over existing treatments, potentially expediting their development and review processes..
Conclusion:
The Vanquish Water Vapor Ablation System represents a promising advancement in prostate cancer treatment, offering a minimally invasive option that may reduce common side effects associated with traditional therapies. Ongoing clinical trials and recent developments suggest a positive trajectory for this technology. Patients interested in this treatment should consult with their healthcare providers to discuss eligibility and potential benefits.
A 10-Second Steam Blast: The New Weapon Against Prostate Cancer?
Keck Medicine of USC is conducting a clinical trial that explores using steam as a potential alternative to surgery or radiation to target and destroy cancer cells in select prostate cancer patients.
Steam eliminates wrinkles and germs, but can it destroy cancer cells too?
Keck Medicine of USC is part of a nationwide, multi-center clinical trial investigating the potential of a water vapor system that uses precise, targeted steam to destroy cancer cells. The focus is on determining whether this innovative approach is a safe and effective treatment for prostate cancer.
Researchers are optimistic that this method could provide a less invasive alternative for managing or potentially curing cancer compared to existing treatments.
“The most common therapies for prostate cancer often cause life-altering side effects, and we are investigating if this new treatment may not only treat the cancer, but offer our patients overall better quality-of-life outcomes,” said Andre Abreu, MD, a Keck Medicine urologist and lead investigator of the Keck Medicine clinical trial site. Abreu also leads focal therapy and artificial intelligence efforts for prostate cancer with USC Urology.
Who may benefit from the trial
The clinical trial is designed for patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer, meaning that the tumor is localized in the prostate gland and has not spread to other organs. This type of cancer accounts for approximately one-third of all localized prostate cancers, according to Abreu.
Some patients with prostate cancer may not need any treatment if the cancer is small enough and slow-growing. However, when treatment is necessary, traditionally, physicians have treated patients with either surgery or radiation.
These techniques are generally effective in treating the cancer, however, there can be side effects. The prostate is located in between the bladder, the urethra (a duct that transports urine from the bladder) and the rectum. It is surrounded by numerous nerves responsible for penile erections and the muscle that controls urine flow, the urinary sphincter. During surgery or radiation, there is a risk of injuring healthy tissue along with the cancer and damaging the delicate structures that lie next to the prostate.
The most common side effects of surgery and radiation are impotence, urinary incontinency, and bowel dysfunction.
“While patients are happy to be free of cancer, the costs of the cure are very high,” said Abreu. “There is a growing amount of literature in the field suggesting that select patients could benefit from a procedure with fewer risks that allows them to maintain their quality of life after cancer.”
How steam might fight cancer
Heat is one therapy to help damage and kill cancer cells, according to the National Cancer Institute. Steam offers a targeted way to deliver heat into the body, according to Abreu.
Before the procedure, physicians use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to locate the tumor cells in the patient’s prostate. During the procedure, doctors use an ultrasound and prostate mapping to guide a thin catheter through the patient’s urethra and into the area of the prostate where the tumor is located.
Once the catheter is positioned, a fine needle is deployed in the tumor. Doctors then release a quick, targeted 10-second burst of steam from the needle, and more bursts as needed, to destroy the tumor.
“This procedure is thought to be much gentler on the body than traditional therapies and is designed to target the cancerous tissue within the prostate,” said Abreu. “We are exploring if steam may be effective at destroying cancer cells without damaging the surrounding organs.”
Another potential advantage to the investigational therapy is that unlike surgery, which requires an overnight stay in the hospital, the water vapor therapy is an outpatient procedure. And unlike radiation, which usually involves multiple sessions, the water vapor therapy is designed to work using only one application.
Clinical trial details
The clinical trial is being conducted at up to 30 hospitals and health centers across the nation. So far, more than 180 procedures have been completed.
Keck Hospital of USC is the only Los Angeles area site participating in the study. Patients’ post-treatment cancer outcomes will be followed for five years.
The study is sponsored by Francis Medical, Inc., a privately held medical company that developed the device being used, the Vanquish® Water Vapor Ablation System.
The water vapor ablation system is one of several minimally invasive treatments for prostate cancer either already in use or being developed within the field of urology.
“Over the next decade or so, we hope to see innovative therapies revolutionize how we help patients become cancer-free while maintaining their quality of life,” said Abreu.
Reference: “Water Vapor Ablation for Localized Intermediate Risk Prostate Cancer (VAPOR 2).”
Dr. Abreu declares no conflict of interest with the sponsor.
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