Radiofrequency Ablation Using a Multiple-Electrode Switching System for Lung Tumors with 2.0-5.0-cm Maximum Diameter: Phase II Clinical Study

To prospectively evaluate the safety and effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) by using a multiple-electrode switching system to treat 2.0-5.0-cm lung tumors.

The institutional review board approved this prospective phase II study. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients. Between September 2009 and July 2011, RFA using two or three radiofrequency (RF) electrodes and a multiple-electrode switching system was performed for malignant lung tumors with a maximum tumor diameter of 2.0-5.0 cm in nonsurgical candidates. The primary endpoint was safety, as evaluated using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Patients were observed for at least 1 year. Local tumor progression and overall survival were analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method.

Thirty-three patients (26 men, seven women; mean age, 70.5 years ± 10.0; age range, 46-87 years) with 35 lung tumors with a mean maximum diameter of 3.0 cm ± 0.7 (standard deviation; range, 2.0-4.4 cm) underwent treatment in 35 sessions. No procedure-related death or grade 4 adverse events (AEs) occurred. Grade 3 AEs occurred in four patients (12%), with pleural effusion requiring chest tube placement in two patients, pneumothorax requiring pleural adhesion in one patient, and pulmonary hemorrhage requiring pulmonary artery coil embolization in one patient. Grade 2 AEs were detected in 13 patients (39%). The 1-year local tumor progression and overall survival rates were 12.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0, 25.5) and 81.2% (95% CI: 67.6, 94.8).

RFA with a multiple-electrode switching system may be a safe therapeutic option with which to treat 2.0-5.0-cm lung cancer tumors.