Where to Get IRE/NanoKnife Treatment for Prostate Cancer
Irreversible electroporation (IRE), also known by the brand name NanoKnife, is a specialized prostate cancer focal therapy. It uses electrical pulses to damage prostate cancer cells by disrupting their membranes while aiming to preserve surrounding healthy tissue.
Because this minimally invasive treatment requires dedicated technology and prostate-focused expertise, it is still only available through a limited number of clinics worldwide.
While more providers are beginning to offer IRE, prostate-specific expertise still varies widely.
For patients comparing where to get NanoKnife treatment, the question is not just whether a clinic offers the procedure. It is whether the team has the background, planning process, and case experience needed to use the technology properly.
This guide explains where IRE/NanoKnife treatment may be available by region, what affects access and cost, and what patients should ask before choosing a provider.
Why IRE/NanoKnife Treatment Is Only Available at Select Clinics
IRE/NanoKnife has been discussed as a potential prostate cancer treatment since at least 2007. Since then, early adopters have helped develop its use through specialist clinical practice and published research.
Still, IRE/NanoKnife remains a specialized non-thermal focal therapy that is not available at every prostate cancer centre. This is mainly because it depends on highly specialized requirements, including:
- dedicated IRE/NanoKnife technology
- physician training and prostate-specific experience
- accurate imaging and biopsy review
- careful treatment planning
- precise probe or electrode placement
- appropriate patient selection
In most clinical settings, IRE/NanoKnife is considered for selected patients with localized prostate cancer, often in low-to-intermediate or intermediate risk prostate cancer cases. More experienced centres may also be able to evaluate complex cases, but suitability still depends on the full clinical picture.
This is why provider choice matters. An experienced provider can assess whether IRE or another focal therapy is appropriate and whether it should be used alone or as part of a broader treatment strategy. In more advanced cases, we often recommend a combination approach involving IRE, ECT, and immunotherapy.
Keep in mind that prostate cancer typically progresses relatively slowly. As such, you usually have time to compare treatment options and clinical providers. Do not allow yourself to be rushed into a decision before fully understanding the proposed approach.
Where Is IRE/NanoKnife Treatment Available?
IRE/NanoKnife availability varies significantly by country and region. Even in more established regions, access still depends on local adoption, regulation, and specialist experience.
For now, IRE/NanoKnife treatment is still largely concentrated in specialist focal therapy clinics, private prostate cancer centres, and selected hospital or academic programs. This leads many patients to search internationally, either because local access is limited or they want a provider with more prostate-specific IRE experience.
The regions below should be understood as general access patterns, not as a complete provider directory or endorsement of any individual clinic. Patients should verify current availability, physician experience, candidacy criteria, regulatory status, and follow-up requirements directly with each provider.
IRE/NanoKnife Treatment in Europe
Europe was one of the earliest regions where IRE/NanoKnife became available for prostate cancer treatment. However, while device access in Europe is generally tied to CE-marked medical technology, actual availability still depends on whether specialist centres in each country have adopted the procedure.
The European countries with the clearest prostate IRE/NanoKnife access include:
- Germany
- United Kingdom
These regions matter because they include some of the most experienced prostate IRE providers globally.
Germany is especially relevant because specialist centres there were among the earliest adopters of IRE for prostate cancer. For example, VITUS Privatklinik began using IRE/NanoKnife for prostate cancer in 2011 in collaboration with Prof. Boris Rubinsky, one of the originators of irreversible electroporation technology.
Since then, VITUS has become one of the most experienced prostate IRE centres internationally, with published data from 471 treatments conducted between 2011 and 2016. The clinic has also expanded this work into IRECT, a combination therapy that combines IRE and electrochemotherapy for selected tumour presentations.
IRE/NanoKnife may also be available through individual providers in other European countries, but patients should confirm the clinic’s prostate-specific IRE experience before assuming it is suitable.
IRE/NanoKnife Treatment in North America
In North America, IRE/NanoKnife access is strongest in the United States and more limited in Canada. The U.S. has the clearest regulatory pathway, with IRE-related devices first FDA-cleared for soft-tissue ablation in 2006, followed by clearances for the NanoKnife System in 2011 and 2015. Prostate-specific FDA authorization was also reported in 2024.
Despite this regulatory history, IRE/NanoKnife is still largely limited to selected academic, private, and specialist urology settings.
In the United States, providers tend to be concentrated around major medical markets. The most visible states for prostate IRE/NanoKnife access include:
- Florida
- Georgia
- New York
- California
In Canada, prostate IRE/NanoKnife access is even more limited, but publicly visible options include providers in Toronto and other selected private clinic settings.
For North American patients, provider experience and coverage details should be confirmed before assuming a clinic is suitable.
IRE/NanoKnife Treatment in Australia and New Zealand
In Australia and New Zealand, IRE/NanoKnife access is more limited than in Europe or the United States, but there are visible specialist providers in both countries. Device access is governed through the TGA/ARTG in Australia and Medsafe/WAND in New Zealand, but listing or notification does not mean treatment is broadly available or publicly funded.
In Australia, patients are most likely to find access through larger medical markets, including:
- Sydney
- Melbourne
- Perth
Australia is the clearer starting point in this region because prostate IRE/NanoKnife is offered through selected specialist urology and focal therapy providers. However, availability is still not broad, so prostate-specific IRE experience should be confirmed before treatment planning.
In New Zealand, access to prostate IRE/NanoKnife is even more limited than in Australia, but private specialist options are available, particularly around Auckland.
Patients comparing options in Australia or New Zealand should confirm prostate-specific experience, candidacy criteria, and follow-up before assuming a clinic is suitable.
How to Compare IRE/NanoKnife Clinics Before Choosing a Provider
Choosing an IRE/NanoKnife clinic is not just a matter of finding the closest provider. Because focal irreversible electroporation is a specialized treatment, the quality of the review, planning, and follow-up can be just as important as the procedure itself.
A strong provider should be able to explain when IRE may be appropriate, when it may not be suitable, and what other treatment options should be considered if IRE is not the right fit.
The following are some aspects to consider when evaluating IRE/NanoKnife clinics.
Prostate-Specific IRE Experience
Patients should look for a clinic with direct experience using IRE/NanoKnife for prostate cancer. Prostate IRE requires more than general soft-tissue ablation experience. The provider needs prostate-specific anatomical knowledge, MRI scans or imaging review, and treatment planning.
Important questions include:
- How long has the provider used IRE for prostate cancer?
- How many prostate IRE cases has the clinic or physician performed?
- Does the provider only treat straightforward localized cases, or can they also evaluate more complex cases?
- Is the clinic’s experience specific to prostate cancer, rather than IRE for other cancers?
Candidacy Review and Treatment Planning
IRE/NanoKnife is generally considered for selected patients with localized prostate cancer, especially in many focal therapy settings. More experienced centres may also evaluate selected advanced or recurrent prostate cancer cases, but suitability depends on the full clinical picture, including:
- MRI findings
- biopsy results
- prostate-specific antigen history
- tumour location
- prostate gland anatomy
- prior treatment history
Treatment planning is also central to the quality of care. The clinic should be able to explain how the treatment area is defined, how surrounding tissue is considered, and how probe or electrode placement is planned around nearby nerves, blood vessels, and healthy tissue.
The provider should also be able to explain when IRE alone may not be sufficient. Because VITUS is not limited to IRE, we can evaluate a broader range of individualized treatment strategies rather than referring these cases elsewhere.
At VITUS, we provide information about the treatment options that may be relevant to each case. Contact our care team for more information.
Outcomes, Side Effects, and Follow-Up
Patients should be cautious about broad success-rate claims unless a clinic can explain the data behind them. A reliable provider should be able to discuss oncological outcomes in context, including the patient group being measured, the follow-up period, how recurrence was defined, and how side effects were monitored.
Important follow-up topics include:
- PSA changes after treatment
- MRI scans or biopsy follow-up
- urinary side effects
- erectile function
- recurrence risk
- possible retreatment or further treatment
- future treatment options if cancer returns
Compared with radical treatments such as prostatectomy or radiation therapy, focal IRE/NanoKnife generally aims to preserve quality of life outcomes by reducing the risk of urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and unnecessary damage to surrounding healthy tissue. However, outcomes vary by patient, prostate tumour characteristics, provider experience, and follow-up protocol.
Follow-up is especially important for international patients. Before travelling, patients should understand which follow-up can be handled locally and when to contact the treating clinic.
Questions to Ask Before Booking Treatment
Before choosing an IRE/NanoKnife clinic, patients should ask:
- Does the clinic treat prostate cancer specifically with IRE?
- How many prostate IRE cases has the provider performed?
- What MRI and biopsy results are required before treatment is recommended?
- How are treatment planning and electrode placement handled?
- What happens if IRE is not suitable?
- What alternatives may be considered if IRE is not appropriate?
- Does the clinic discuss whole-gland, focal, and systemic treatment options when relevant?
- Is the NanoKnife procedure offered only as a primary treatment, or can it also be considered after recurrence?
- How are outcomes, side effects, and recurrence monitored?
- How is follow-up handled after treatment, especially for international patients?
How Much Does IRE/NanoKnife Treatment Cost?
The cost of IRE/NanoKnife treatment can vary by country, clinic, and case complexity. Private treatment may also be priced differently from public, insurance-supported, or research-based care.
At VITUS, IRE/NanoKnife therapy typically ranges between €18,000-€25,000 depending on the extent and complexity of the required treatment.
For international patients, a written cost estimate is essential before booking travel. The estimate should explain what is included in the quoted price, what may be billed separately, and whether additional diagnostics are required before treatment can proceed.
A clear estimate should cover the main parts of care, including:
- consultation and case review
- imaging or biopsy review
- anaesthesia and procedure fees
- urinary catheter care, medication, and follow-up
- remote follow-up after returning home
It should also explain what happens financially if the patient travels but is later found not to be suitable for IRE/NanoKnife.
Coverage can also vary widely. In some regions, public access may exist through limited specialist centres or research pathways, but IRE/NanoKnife should not be assumed to be routinely covered. International patients should also check whether their domestic insurance applies to treatment abroad.
Cost matters, but it should be weighed against provider experience and the quality of the treatment plan.
Contact VITUS About IRE/NanoKnife Treatment
Patients interested in IRE/NanoKnife treatment can contact VITUS Privatklinik to request more information or begin a specialist case review.
The care team can explain which treatment options may be relevant and what information is needed to assess the case.
FAQs About Finding an IRE/NanoKnife Clinic
IRE/NanoKnife treatment is available through selected specialist prostate cancer clinics, focal therapy centres, private urology providers, and some hospital or academic programs. Availability varies by country, with clearer access in parts of Europe, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
Patients should look for a clinic with prostate-specific IRE experience, not only general experience using IRE for other cancers. Important factors include case volume, MRI scans or imaging review, treatment planning, electrode placement technique, follow-up protocols, and experience with focal therapy for prostate cancer.
Patients should usually send MRI and biopsy results, PSA history, details of previous treatment, blood test results, and relevant medical records. These records help the clinic assess the prostate tumour, its location, prostate gland anatomy, and whether NanoKnife focal therapy may be technically and medically appropriate.
IRE/NanoKnife may be considered in selected recurrent prostate cancer cases, but suitability depends on the patient’s previous treatment, tumour location, scar tissue, imaging findings, and overall medical situation. Patients should ask whether the clinic has experience evaluating recurrent cases and whether IRE would be considered primary, salvage, or part of a broader treatment strategy.
The cost of IRE/NanoKnife treatment varies by country, clinic, case complexity, diagnostics, anaesthesia, NanoKnife procedure fees, and follow-up requirements. Patients should request a written estimate before booking travel and ask what happens financially if they travel but are later found not to be suitable for treatment.