scholarly journals Local Ablative Strategies for Ductal Pancreatic Cancer (Radiofrequency Ablation, Irreversible Electroporation): A Review

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salvatore Paiella ◽  
Roberto Salvia ◽  
Marco Ramera ◽  
Roberto Girelli ◽  
Isabella Frigerio ◽  
...  

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has still a dismal prognosis. Locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) accounts for the 40% of the new diagnoses. Current treatment options are based on chemo- and radiotherapy regimens. Local ablative techniques seem to be the future therapeutic option for stage-III patients with PDAC. Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) and Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) are actually the most emerging local ablative techniques used on LAPC. Initial clinical studies on the use of these techniques have already demonstrated encouraging results in terms of safety and feasibility. Unfortunately, few studies on their efficacy are currently available. Even though some reports on the overall survival are encouraging, randomized studies are still required to corroborate these findings. This study provides an up-to-date overview and a thematic summary of the current available evidence on the application of RFA and IRE on PDAC, together with a comparison of the two procedures.

Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 976 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eran van Veldhuisen ◽  
Claudia van den Oord ◽  
Lilly J. Brada ◽  
Marieke S. Walma ◽  
Jantien A. Vogel ◽  
...  

Locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) has several definitions but essentially is a nonmetastasized pancreatic cancer, in which upfront resection is considered not beneficial due to extensive vascular involvement and consequent high chance of a nonradical resection. The introduction of FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy and gemcitabine-nab-paclitaxel (gem-nab) has had major implications for the management and outcome of patients with LAPC. After 4–6 months induction chemotherapy, the majority of patients have stable disease or even tumor-regression. Of these, 12 to 35% are successfully downstaged to resectable disease. Several studies have reported a 30–35 months overall survival after resection; although it currently remains unclear if this is a result of the resection or the good response to chemotherapy. Following chemotherapy, selection of patients for resection is difficult, as contrast-enhanced computed-tomography (CT) scan is unreliable in differentiating between viable tumor and fibrosis. In case a resection is not considered possible but stable disease is observed, local ablative techniques are being studied, such as irreversible electroporation, radiofrequency ablation, and stereotactic body radiation therapy. Pragmatic, multicenter, randomized studies will ultimately have to confirm the exact role of both surgical exploration and ablation in these patients. Since evidence-based guidelines for the management of LAPC are lacking, this review proposes a standardized approach for the treatment of LAPC based on the best available evidence.


Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Lafranceschina ◽  
Oronzo Brunetti ◽  
Antonella Delvecchio ◽  
Maria Conticchio ◽  
Michele Ammendola ◽  
...  

Background: Ablative techniques provide in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) symptomatic relief, survival benefit and potential downsizing. Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) represents potentially an ideal solution as no thermal tissue damage occurs. The purpose of this review is to present an overview on safety, feasibility, oncological results, survival and quality of life improvement obtained by IRE. Methods: A systematic search was performed in PubMed, regarding the use of IRE on PC in humans for studies published in English up to March 2019. Results: 15 original studies embodying 691 patients with unresectable LAPC who underwent IRE were included. As emerged, IRE works better on tumour sizes between 3–4 cm. Oncological results are promising: median OS from diagnosis or treatment up to 27 months. Two groups investigated borderline resectable tumours treated with IRE before resection with margin attenuation, whereas IRE has proved to be effective in pain control. Conclusions: Electroporation is bringing new hopes in LAPC management. The first aim of IRE is to offer a palliative treatment. Further efforts are needed for patient selection, as well as the use of IRE for ‘margin accentuation’ during surgical resection. Even if promising, IRE needs to be validated in large, randomized, prospective series.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1609
Author(s):  
Zainab L. Rai ◽  
Roger Feakins ◽  
Laura J. Pallett ◽  
Derek Manas ◽  
Brian R. Davidson

Locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) accounts for 30% of patients with pancreatic cancer. Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a novel cancer treatment that may improve survival and quality of life in LAPC. This narrative review will provide a perspective on the clinical experience of pancreas IRE therapy, explore the evidence for the mode of action, assess treatment complications, and propose strategies for augmenting IRE response. A systematic search was performed using PubMed regarding the clinical use and safety profile of IRE on pancreatic cancer, post-IRE sequential histological changes, associated immune response, and synergistic therapies. Animal data demonstrate that IRE induces both apoptosis and necrosis followed by fibrosis. Major complications may result from IRE; procedure related mortality is up to 2%, with an average morbidity as high as 36%. Nevertheless, prospective and retrospective studies suggest that IRE treatment may increase median overall survival of LAPC to as much as 30 months and provide preliminary data justifying the well-designed trials currently underway, comparing IRE to the standard of care treatment. The mechanism of action of IRE remains unknown, and there is a lack of data on treatment variables and efficiency in humans. There is emerging data suggesting that IRE can be augmented with synergistic therapies such as immunotherapy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 410-410
Author(s):  
Emanuel Boyer ◽  
Russell Palm ◽  
Jessica M. Frakes ◽  
Sarah E. Hoffe ◽  
Mokenge Peter Malafa

410 Background: Outcomes remain poor for those diagnosed with unresectable pancreatic cancer. SBRT and IRE have independently demonstrated high rates of local control and minimal toxicity for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). Data is limited regarding safety and efficacy in the sequential use of both therapies. Materials and Methods: A single institution retrospective matched cohort analysis was performed for patients with non-metastatic pancreatic cancer treated with induction chemotherapy and SBRT followed by IRE, compared with patients of the same cohort who did not receive IRE. Patients were paired based on age, tumor stage, GTV D95, CA19-9 prior to SBRT, and chemotherapy type to mitigate selection bias in surgical candidates. Overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS), freedom from local failure (FFLF) and freedom from distant failure (FFDF) were the primary outcomes compared via Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with log-rank methods. Results: From July, 2014 to February, 2020 17 patients received SBRT followed by IRE. These patients were matched with 17 patients who received SBRT from January, 2012 to March, 2019. Most patients received neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX (82.4%) and were AJCC 8 stage III (79.4%). Median age of the overall cohort was 65.5 years and 50% were male. Median dose delivered to 95% of gross tumor volume was 32.61 Gy, and median pre SBRT CA19-9 value was 70.5 U/mL. There were no statistically significant differences in matched characteristics between the two cohorts. Among the SBRT+IRE, the median time between IRE and SBRT was 66 days (range:49-467 days). The median OS, PFS, FFLF, and FFDF for IRE+SBRT vs. SBRT alone from SBRT was 10.8 vs 15.1 months, 9.6 vs. 15.3 months, 15.7 vs. 15.3 months, 15.9 vs. 14.4 months respectively (all P > .10). 11 patients in the entire cohort experienced toxicity as a result of their radiation therapy (35%), with one G3 GIB and one patient experiencing G3 abdominal pain. Among the 17 patients who underwent IRE, nine patients experienced toxicity (53%). Most of these events were G3, with two G4 intestinal bleeds. There was zero mortality in the 90 day period post operatively. Conclusions: In a retrospective cohort,non-selective delivery ofIRE afterSBRT demonstrated no oncological benefit for patients with unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma compared to only SBRT. Compared to historical experiences of IRE alone, there was no increase in overall toxicity with the combination of SBRT and IRE. The optimal timing, sequencing, and indications for IRE and SBRT in LAPC remain unknown and are best assessed prospectively. [Table: see text]


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