Long-term outcome of high-intensity focused ultrasound in advanced pancreatic cancer.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate safety and efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for advanced pancreatic cancer (PC).

Methods: Patients with PC TNM stage III or IV were included. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed 2 weeks before and after the HIFU. The ablating tumor volume was calculated by ratio of the nonperfused necrotic area of the planned area on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted image on post-HIFU magnetic resonance imaging. The ablation results were stratified into 4 ranges: 100% to 90% unenhanced area of targeting area, 90% to 50%, within 50%, and no change.

Results: High-intensity focused ultrasound treatment was performed without severe adverse event in 46 patients, 49 times (male-female = 25:21; mean age, 60.7 ± 10.0; TNM stage 3-stage 4 = 18:28). Average size of the PC lesion was 4.2 ± 1.4 cm (1.6-9.3 cm). After HIFU treatment, ablating tumor volume was as follows: 90% to 100% in 38 lesions, 90% to 50% in 8, and within 50% in 3. Overall median survival (S1) from initial PC diagnosis was 12.4 months. Overall survival (S2) rates at 6, 12, and 18 months from HIFU were 52.2%, 30.4%, and 21.79%, respectively, with a median survival of 7.0 months

Conclusions: High-intensity focused ultrasound is safe and effective, which induced excellent local tumor control in most patients with advanced PC.