New Treatment Offers Hope to Pancreatic Cancer Patients
Minimally Invasive Procedure Shrinks Tumors and Triggers Immune Response
For patients facing pancreatic cancer, a particularly aggressive and difficult-to-treat disease, a groundbreaking treatment called irreversible electroporation (IRE) is emerging as a powerful new weapon in the fight against the disease. This innovative approach uses high-voltage electrical pulses to destroy malignant cells, offering promising results for even the most challenging cases.
Dr. Rodrigo Alonso-González, an interventional radiologist at the forefront of this technique, describes IRE as a true “therapeutic revolution.”
"IRE allows us to treat tumors, even those in complicated locations, with a minimally invasive procedure that doesn’t damage surrounding healthy tissue," explains Dr. Alonso-González. "In some cases, it can even shrink tumors enough to make them operable, vastly improving patient outcomes."
A Precise and Targeted Assault on Cancer Cells
The IRE procedure involves the careful placement of electrode needles around the tumor using advanced imaging techniques such as ultrasound and CT scans. Once positioned, carefully calibrated electrical pulses are delivered through the needles. These pulses create temporary pores in the membranes of cancer cells, causing them to disintegrate.
"The needles used for IRE are small and similar to those used for drawing blood, so the procedure is well-tolerated by patients and generally requires only a short hospital stay, with most individuals able to return home within 24 to 48 hours after the procedure,” Dr Alonso-González explains. “Unlike traditional surgery, IRE leaves no visible scarring and involves significantly less recovery time.
Harnessing the Immune System to Fight Cancer
Beyond its direct impact on tumor cells, IRE has another remarkable characteristic: it can effectively fight cancer from within by activating the patient’s own immune system. The destruction of tumor cells through IRE releases molecules that stimulate an immune response. This immune activation can help target and destroy cancer cells that may have spread to other areas of the body, potentially slowing or even halting the progression of the disease.
“We are learning more about the abscopal effect, which describes how IRE can trigger an immune response that attacks not just the treated tumor but also distant metastases,” Dr. Alonso-González says. “Combined with advanced immunotherapies, IRE holds enormous potential to effectively fight cancer on multiple fronts.
A Cutting-Edge Treatment with Promising Future
IRE is a relatively new technology and is still being studied in clinical trials. However, early results are encouraging, showcasing its ability not only to effectively shrink tumors but also to trigger a robust immune response against cancer cells.
As with any advanced medical procedure, the success of IRE depends on the expertise of the medical team performing it. Dr. Alonso-González stresses the crucial role of interventional radiologists, who require highly specialized training and skills to accurately insert needles and deliver the precise electrical pulses necessary for successful treatment.
“With advancements in technology, such as the development of robotic systems and single-needle devices, IRE is becoming even more precise and accessible to more patients, " he says.
It is a testament to the ongoing scientific advancements. This new approach offers hope for patients diagnosed with previously difficult-to-treat cancers and could fundamentally change the way cancer is treated in the future.
What are the advantages of IRE compared to traditional surgical methods for treating pancreatic cancer?
## New Treatment Offers Hope to Pancreatic Cancer Patients: An Interview with Dr. Rodrigo Alonso-González
**Interviewer:** Dr. Alonso-González, thank you for joining us today to discuss this exciting new development in pancreatic cancer treatment.
**Dr. Alonso-González:** It’s my pleasure to be here.
**Interviewer:** Let’s start with the basics. What is irreversible electroporation (IRE)?
**Dr. Alonso-González:** IRE is a minimally invasive procedure that uses high-voltage electrical pulses to destroy cancer cells. It’s a true therapeutic revolution for pancreatic cancer patients. [[1](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2096360222000564)]
**Interviewer:** How does IRE work?
**Dr. Alonso-González:** We carefully position thin needles around the tumor using imaging guidance like ultrasound and CT scans. Then, we deliver precisely calibrated electrical pulses through those needles. This creates temporary pores in the cancer cell membranes, causing them to disintegrate.
**Interviewer:** What are the advantages of IRE compared to traditional surgery?
**Dr. Alonso-González:** IRE is much less invasive. The needles are small, similar to those used for drawing blood. Patients tolerate the procedure well and usually only need a short hospital stay, returning home within 24 to 48 hours [[1](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2096360222000564)]. It also leaves no visible scarring and recovery time is significantly reduced.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned that IRE can even make tumors operable. Can you elaborate on that?
**Dr. Alonso-González:** In some cases, IRE can effectively shrink tumors, making them amenable to surgical removal. This can greatly improve a patient’s chances of long-term survival.
**Interviewer:** What about the long-term outlook for patients who undergo IRE?
**Dr. Alonso-González:** While pancreatic cancer remains a serious diagnosis, IRE offers a glimmer of hope. It’s been shown to be effective in shrinking tumors and triggering the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells. [[1](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2096360222000564)]Research is ongoing, but the early results are promising.
**Interviewer:** Dr. Alonso-González, thank you so much for sharing your expertise with us today. This is truly groundbreaking news for pancreatic cancer patients.
**Dr. Alonso-González:** It’s my privilege to contribute to the fight against this devastating disease.
