Safety and Preliminary Efficacy of Ultrasound-guided Percutaneous Irreversible Electroporation for Treatment of Localized Pancreatic Cancer

Background: Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a local tumor treatment. Thin needles are placed percutaneously around the tumor under ultrasound guidance. Short pulses of direct current sent through the tissue irreversibly increase cell membrane permeability leading to cell death. We report a phase I study assessing the safety of ultrasound guided percutaneous IRE in patients with localized pancreatic cancer (LPC). Patients and Methods: Five patients (three males) with LPC, judged unsuitable for surgery, chemotherapy, or non-resectable after standard oncological treatment, were treated with IRE. The treatment was given under general anesthesia with muscle relaxation. Results: No serious treatment-related adverse events were observed. There was no 30-day mortality. One patient went on to laparotomy and had a R0 pancreaticoduodenectomy with portal vein resection. Six months after the treatment, two patients had no signs of recurrence on computed tomography or contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Conclusion: IRE for LPC can be safely performed percutaneously under ultrasound guidance, with promising initial results regarding efficacy.