TOOKAD Vascular Targeted Photodynamic Therapy for Prostate Cancer at Vivantes Clinic Am Urban

The TOOKAD vascular targeted photodynamic therapy (VTP) at the Vivantes Clinic Am Urban in Berlin is a premier focal therapy program for localized, low-risk prostate cancer. Led by specialized urologists, this center is one of the leading German institutions for organ-preserving oncological interventions. Unlike radical surgery or radiation, TOOKAD VTP destroys only the tumor-bearing area, significantly reducing the risk of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. The procedure utilizes a unique dual-component system: an intravenous photosensitizer derived from deep-sea seaweed (padeliporfin) and low-power near-infrared laser light. When activated, this combination triggers a targeted vascular shutdown, "starving" the tumor while leaving the healthy prostate tissue and surrounding nerves intact. At Vivantes Am Urban, TOOKAD VTP is specifically indicated for patients with low-risk, localized prostate cancer who are often eligible for active surveillance but seek a proactive, minimally invasive treatment. Typical inclusion criteria include a clinical stage of T1c or T2a, a Gleason Score of 6 or less, and a PSA level no higher than 10 ng/mL. Furthermore, the tumor should be unilateral, affecting only one lobe of the prostate, with a total prostate volume ideally between 25 cc and 70 cc. The intervention is performed as a high-precision, minimally invasive procedure under general anesthesia in the clinic's specialized urological operating suite. The process begins with precision mapping, where, under transrectal ultrasound guidance, the surgeon places thin, hollow needles through the perineum. The number and position of these needles are determined by a personalized 3D dosimetric treatment plan created from the patient's MRI and biopsy data. Following needle placement, the patient receives an intravenous infusion of TOOKAD Soluble (padeliporfin) over 10 minutes. This substance remains confined to the blood vessels and is only activated where the laser light is applied. Finally, thin optical laser fibers are inserted through the needles, and a 753-nm laser is activated for approximately 22 minutes. This triggers the production of free radicals within the tumor's blood vessels, causing immediate thrombosis and targeted tissue necrosis. Vivantes Clinic Am Urban follows the high standards established in European Phase III clinical trials. Key outcomes include a negative biopsy rate of approximately 80% to 85% at the six-month follow-up, indicating no definitive signs of cancer in the treated area. Regarding functional preservation, over 90% of patients maintain full urinary continence, and a high percentage retain their pre-procedural erectile function, thanks to the laser's non-thermal nature. Research also indicates that the therapy reduces the risk of progressing to more aggressive cancer by approximately 50% compared to active surveillance alone.