Laser-activated drug a 'leap forward' for prostate cancer treatment

New therapy does not cause side-effects such as impotence and urinary incontinence, researchers say

A drug activated by laser light successfully destroys early prostate cancer while avoiding side-effects that commonly occur with surgery, trial results have shown.

The new technique, called vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy (VTP), involves injecting a light-sensitive drug into the bloodstream. The drug is then "switched on" by laser pulses fired through optical fibres inserted into the prostate.