title: Percutaneous irreversible electroporation for treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer following chemotherapy or radiochemotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a non-thermal based tumor ablation method used close to vessels and ducts and has the potential of treating locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of IRE in patients with LAPC after chemo- and/or radio-chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients with biopsy proven LAPC and who had received chemo- and/or radio-chemotherapy with no signs of metastases were included and treated with ultrasound guided percutaneous IRE under general anesthesia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median overall survival from diagnosis of LAPC was 17.9 months; this included 7.0 months after IRE. Median time from IRE was 6.1 months to local progression and 2.7 months to observation of metastases. Local control was observed in nine patients. IRE related complications were observed in 11 patients, three of which were serious complications. There was no IRE related mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous IRE is reasonably safe in LAPC after chemo-/radio-chemotherapy and with promising results regarding efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75185, Sweden. Electronic address: christopher.mansson@surgsci.uu.se.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Månsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75185, Sweden.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brahmstaedt
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75185, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nygren
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75185, Sweden.
authors.forename: B-M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Karlson
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D018274:Electroporation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: Electroporation; Interventional ultrasonography; Pancreatic neoplasms