Active Surveillance and Focal Therapy

A JAMA editorial accompanying two studies questions whether active surveillance and focal therapy for prostate cancer are being adopted on the strength of evidence or driven by prestige, novelty, and reimbursement incentives. Drawing an analogy to “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” the commentary argues that key opinion leaders, professional societies, and industry marketing may lead clinicians to embrace technologies that lack robust outcome data. The editorial calls for prostate cancer management strategies to be judged strictly by clinical evidence rather than the appeal of precision and personalization language.