What Patients Should Know About Vanquish
A plain-language guide to how this focal therapy works, possible benefits, limitations, and questions to ask your urologist.
| Quick answer
Vanquish is a water vapor ablation system that treats selected prostate tissue through the urethra. It may offer a less invasive option for some men with localized prostate cancer, but it is not right for everyone. Long-term cancer-control results are still being studied. |
Reviewed and updated: September 2026
What is Vanquish water vapor ablation?
Vanquish is a medical device that uses sterile water vapor to destroy targeted prostate tissue. A urologist guides a thin instrument through the urethra—the tube that carries urine out of the body—and places a small needle into the planned treatment area. The device releases a measured dose of vapor. As the vapor turns back into liquid, it transfers heat to the tissue and causes the treated cells to die.
This approach is a type of prostate ablation. When treatment focuses on the area containing cancer instead of the entire prostate, it may also be described as focal therapy for prostate cancer.
In November 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared the Vanquish system for thermal ablation of targeted prostate tissue. That clearance is not the same as proof that the procedure is the best prostate cancer treatment for every patient. Treatment decisions still depend on the cancer’s location, grade, stage, PSA level, prostate size, overall health, and personal priorities.
How does water vapor treatment work?
The treatment is planned with imaging. Ultrasound helps the physician guide the device during the procedure, while MRI and biopsy information may help define the tissue that needs treatment.
Water vapor moves through tiny spaces within prostate tissue and delivers heat to a controlled area. The prostate capsule—the outer boundary of the gland—slows the way heat travels. The system is designed to treat tissue near that boundary while limiting heat exposure outside the prostate.
| Important to understand
“Designed to protect” does not mean “risk-free.” Urinary problems, sexual side effects, infection, bleeding, pain, urinary retention, and the need for additional treatment are still possible. Ask your doctor for results that apply to patients like you. |
Why are patients interested in focal therapy?
Traditional prostate cancer treatment may include surgery to remove the prostate or radiation therapy. These treatments can be very effective, but they may affect urinary control, erections, bowel function, or recovery time.
Focal therapy aims to treat the cancer-containing part of the prostate while leaving more healthy tissue untreated. The hope is to control the known cancer while reducing unwanted effects. This balance can be appealing, especially to men with cancer that appears confined to the prostate.
However, focal therapy also has tradeoffs. Prostate cancer can exist in more than one area of the gland. Untreated tissue must be monitored, and cancer may remain, return, or appear elsewhere. Follow-up usually includes PSA testing, imaging, and sometimes repeat biopsy.
Possible benefits of Vanquish
Depending on the patient and treatment plan, possible benefits may include:
- Treatment through the urethra, without an external incision.
- Targeting of selected prostate tissue rather than automatic treatment of the whole gland.
- An outpatient procedure for appropriate patients.
- A design focused on limiting heat spread toward nearby nerves and the urinary sphincter.
- The ability to reach tumors in different parts of the prostate under image guidance.
These are potential benefits, not guarantees. Individual results can differ.
What does current research show?
Vanquish has been studied in men with localized, intermediate-risk prostate cancer. The VAPOR 2 study is a prospective, multicenter, single-arm study, meaning everyone in the study received the procedure and there was no randomized comparison group.
Company-reported interim results for the first 110 patients included a 91% clearance rate for targeted MRI-visible Grade Group 2 or higher disease after one treatment. The company also reported no device-related serious adverse events and low rates of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction in that group.
Those findings are encouraging, but they do not answer every question. The study continues to follow patients, and longer-term evidence is needed to understand durability, recurrence, survival outcomes, and how Vanquish compares directly with surgery, radiation, active surveillance, and other focal therapies.
| How to read early results
A strong short-term biopsy result does not automatically equal a cure. Ask how long patients were followed, whether results were independently published, and what happened to cancer elsewhere in the prostate. |
Vanquish vs. Rezūm: what is the difference?
Vanquish and Rezūm both use water vapor, but they are designed for different medical problems.
| Feature | Vanquish | Rezūm |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Ablation of targeted prostate tissue; being studied in localized prostate cancer | Treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or noncancerous prostate enlargement |
| Planning | Cancer-focused planning using biopsy and imaging information | Targets enlarged tissue that blocks urine flow |
| Treatment reach | Designed to target different areas within the prostate | Designed mainly around tissue near the urethra |
Who may be a candidate?
A urologist or prostate cancer specialist must decide whether water vapor ablation is appropriate. Research has focused on selected men with localized, intermediate-risk prostate cancer. A complete evaluation may include MRI, targeted and systematic biopsy results, Grade Group or Gleason score, PSA level, prostate size, urinary symptoms, and life expectancy.
Vanquish may not be appropriate when cancer has spread outside the prostate, when disease is too extensive for a targeted approach, or when another treatment offers a better chance of control. Some men may be better served by active surveillance, surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, another focal therapy, or a combination of treatments.
Questions to ask your urologist
- Is my cancer localized, and where is it located within the prostate?
- Am I a reasonable candidate for focal therapy? Why or why not?
- What does FDA clearance for this device mean for my diagnosis?
- What are your own results with this procedure?
- What are my risks of urinary leakage, erection problems, urinary retention, infection, or needing a catheter?
- How will we know whether the treatment worked?
- What follow-up tests will I need, and will I need another biopsy?
- What happens if cancer remains or returns?
- How do the expected outcomes compare with surgery, radiation, active surveillance, and other focal treatments?
- Will insurance cover the procedure and follow-up care?
Frequently asked questions
Is water vapor ablation a cure for prostate cancer?
It should not be described as a guaranteed cure. Early studies assess whether targeted cancer is no longer found on follow-up biopsy and track side effects. Longer follow-up is needed to understand lasting cancer control.
Is Vanquish minimally invasive?
The procedure is performed through the urethra and does not require an external surgical incision. It is still a medical procedure with anesthesia, recovery needs, and possible complications.
Can Vanquish preserve erections and urinary control?
Preserving these functions is an important treatment goal, and early reports are encouraging. No procedure can promise that erections or urinary control will remain unchanged.
Is Vanquish the same as Rezūm?
No. Rezūm treats benign prostate enlargement. Vanquish is designed to ablate targeted prostate tissue and is being studied for localized prostate cancer.
Will I still need follow-up after focal therapy?
Yes. Because prostate tissue remains, ongoing PSA tests, examinations, imaging, and possible repeat biopsies are important.
The bottom line
Vanquish water vapor ablation is a newer prostate ablation option designed to treat selected tissue while limiting damage to nearby structures. It may be worth discussing for some men with localized prostate cancer. It is not automatically the best choice, and early results should be considered alongside the limits of current evidence.
A prostate cancer specialist can explain whether focal therapy fits your diagnosis and compare it with established options. A second opinion may be helpful when treatment choices have different effects on cancer control and quality of life.
| Medical disclaimer
This article is for general education only. It does not diagnose a condition or replace advice from a qualified healthcare professional. Treatment eligibility, risks, benefits, and regulatory status can change. Discuss your individual situation with your urologist or cancer care team. |
SEO publishing notes
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SEO title: Water Vapor Ablation for Prostate Cancer: Vanquish Guide
Meta description: Learn how Vanquish water vapor ablation works, who may qualify, possible benefits and risks, and questions to ask about focal therapy for prostate cancer.
Primary keyword: water vapor ablation for prostate cancer
Secondary keywords: focal therapy for prostate cancer; prostate cancer treatment; prostate ablation; Vanquish prostate cancer treatment; minimally invasive prostate cancer treatment
Search intent: Patient education and treatment comparison
Sources
- ClinicalTrials.gov. VAPOR 2: Water Vapor Ablation for Localized Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer. NCT05683691
- Francis Medical. FDA clearance announcement and interim VAPOR 2 results, December 2, 2025. Read the announcement
- U.S. FDA 510(k) record K252388. Indication: thermal ablation of targeted prostate tissue via a transurethral approach. FDA database search
- Francis Medical. Clinical evidence overview for VAPOR 1 and VAPOR 2. Review evidence
Source article supplied by the client: “Is This the Best New Prostate Cancer Treatment? Inside Vanquish Water Vapor Ablation.”
