Ablation treatments in unresectable pancreatic cancer

Minerva Chir. 2019 Jun;74(3):263-269. doi: 10.23736/S0026-4733.18.07881-1. Epub 2019 Jan 2.

Abstract

Ablation treatments have been increasingly applied as an alternative treatment for unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). The goal of LAPC therapy is surgical resection with negative margins (R0); however, that can be achieved only in a minority of patients and only following neoadjuvant treatment. Ablation might be useful for those patients with unresectable LAPC that do not progress towards metastatic stage and do not experience a true downstaging. Indeed, some LAPC that tend to grow locally, might be the subgroup of tumors that could benefit from ablation. Experience is necessary to select patients and the technique to adopt, since serious or fatal complications can occur. This review aims to discuss the role of ablation treatments in LAPC, with a unique focus on radiofrequency ablation and irreversible electroporation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Electrochemotherapy / methods
  • Electroporation / methods
  • Humans
  • Laser Therapy / methods
  • Microwaves / therapeutic use
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Radiofrequency Ablation / adverse effects
  • Radiofrequency Ablation / methods
  • Radiofrequency Therapy / methods