Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) Combined With Chemotherapy Increases Survival in Locally Advanced Pancreatic...

Locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) is found in about 40% of patients with pancreatic cancer. Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a nonthermal ablative technique that provides an alternative in patients with LAPC and can be safely combined with chemotherapy.

From 2015 until October of 2019, we performed laparotomic IRE in a total of 40 patients with stage III LAPC. The median age of these patients was 65.2 years (range: 46 to 81 y), and the median tumor size was 3.8 cm (range: 2 to 5.2 cm). 33 of 40 patients were treated preoperatively with FOLFIRINOX or nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine and in case of disease control, IRE was performed, whereas in 7 patients, IRE was performed without previous chemotherapy.

All patients were treated successfully with IRE as the tumor evaluation showed no disease progression after the completion of induction chemotherapy. No IRE-related deaths occurred. Two major grade III complications were reported: pancreatic fistula grade A in 8 patients and 3 patients diagnosed with delayed gastric emptying. Up to October 31, 2019, the median overall survival (OS) of all patients was 24.2 months (range: 6 to 36 mo), and the median progression-free survival was 10.3 months (range: 3 to 24 mo). After the completion of IRE, 30 patients (75%) continued with adjuvant chemotherapy. Fifteen patients (37%) have >24 months OS and 3 patients (8%) have reached 36 months OS and are still alive.

The combination of chemotherapy with IRE, which is a safe and effective procedure, may result in a survival benefit for patients with LAPC.