Limited Effectiveness in Early Human Clinical Experience with Pulsed Electrical Field Ablation

Abstract

PurposeTo evaluate oncological outcomes, abscopal effect, and adverse events of pulsed electrical field (PEF) ablation of tumors in the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Materials & MethodsPEF ablations performed at an academic medical center between May 2023 - January 2024 were retrospectively analyzed . 11 patients (male/female: 4/7, age:58 ± 19) underwent 11 PEF sessions targeting 13 tumors (lung metastasis from solitary fibrous tumor (n=3) and colorectal carcinoma(CA) (n=1), osteosarcoma pleural metastases (n=2), hepatocellular CA (n=2),liver metastasis from colorectal CA (n=1)and leiomyosarcoma (n=1), metastatic melanoma to pancreas (n=1), metastatic retroperitoneal lymph node from endometrial CA(n=1), recurrence of endometrial CA in vaginal cuff(n=1)) with the goal of complete coverage (n=11/13) or debulking (n=2/13). The mean tumor diameter was 1.9 ± 1.0 cm (range, 0.4 – 3.3 cm). Cross-sectional imaging follow-up was 5.3 ± 2.2 months (range, 1.9 - 7.9 months). Oncological outcomes, abscopal effect, and adverse events categorized according to SIR guidelines were reported. ResultsOf 11 tumors underwent ablation for complete coverage, complete coverage was achieved for 1 (9%) and residual detected in 9 (81%). 10 of 11 patients (91%) showed either residual, local or distant progression within a median of 3 months. No abscopal effect was observed. There were 2 mild and 2 severe adverse events. ConclusionsPEF ablation showed a low rate of complete coverage (9%) and a high rate (91%) of residual, local or distant progression. No abscopal effect was observed within a median of 5.1 months after the ablation.