Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi performs first transcontinental robotic prostate cancer procedure

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, part of the M42 group, has successfully conducted the world’s first transcontinental robotic-assisted focal therapy procedure for pros­tate cancer. The groundbreaking procedure represents unprecedented collaboration between specialists separated by thousands of kilometres, with real-time coordination between Cleveland Clinic facilities in Abu Dhabi and Ohio.

The innovative surgery enabled synchro­nous collaboration between Dr Ruben Oli­vares, a urologist from Cleveland Clinic’s Glickman Urological Institute in Ohio providing remote guidance, and Dr Waleed A. Hassen, Department Chair of Urology at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, who man­aged the procedural execution onsite.

Technical implementation
Focal therapy represents a non-invasive treatment approach that precisely targets spe­cific prostate sections using ultrasound beams, eliminating requirements for major surgery or radiation. The Focal-One system enhances this precision through a robotic arm that de­livers controlled ultrasound treatment.

Dr Hassen explained: “There are many ways to treat prostate cancer, and one of the options is focal therapy. It’s a non-invasive procedure where we use a robotically con­trolled arm to deliver treatment. Once the treatment plan is in place, the machine de­livers it precisely. This is proof of principle that we can contour the prostate, design the plan, and execute it remotely.”

Clinical significance
Remote procedures offer significant po­tential to address healthcare inequities by providing specialised surgical exper­tise to underserved regions. The tech­nology combines local and global clini­cal expertise while enabling minimally invasive treatment options for patients who might otherwise lack access to ad­vanced care.

Dr Olivares noted: “We are thrilled to have successfully performed the first-ever transcontinental robotic assisted fo­cal therapy procedure for prostate cancer by working in tandem with our partners at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. Here at Cleveland Clinic, we use cutting-edge technology, but unfortunately, it’s not available in many places throughout the
U.S. and in the world.”

Future applications
The successful procedure extends beyond prostate cancer treatment, potentially open­ing new pathways for surgical education and international clinical collaboration. The achievement coincides with Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s decade of clinical excel­lence and ongoing integration of advanced healthcare technologies.