Therapeutic effect of high intensity focused ultrasound on advanced pancreatic cancer

Abstract

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) on advanced pancreatic cancer.Methods A total of 39 advanced pancreatic cancer patients were randomly divided into treatment group and control group.Patients in treatment group were given HIFU and intravenous gemcitabine chemotherapy,while patients in control group were given intravenous gemcitabine chemotherapy only.Two months later,the changes in tumor volume,the degree of pain relief and the incidence of adverse events were measured.The 3 months and 6 months survival were recorded.Results The total effective rate of tumor volume shrinkage in treatment group was 80.8%,which was significantly higher than 46.2% in control group (χ2=4.75,P=0.029).The degree of pain relief in treatment group was 61.5%,which was significantly higher than 15.4% in control group (χ2=7.24,P=0.007).The incidences of leucopenia,liver and renal function impairment and gastrointestinal adverse events in treatment group were similar to those in control group.The 3 month survival in treatment group was 100% (26/26),which was not significantly higher than 84.6% (11/13)in control group;while the 6 month survival in treatment group was 76.9% (20/26),which was significantly higher than 38.5% (5/13) in control group (χ2=5.42,P=0.02).Conclusions Gemcitabine chemotherapy combined with HIFU treatment was more effective for pancreatic tumor growth control and pain relief without more adverse events,which was effective and safe. Key words: Pancreatic neoplasms; Ultrasound; high-intensity focused; Gemeitabine