Authors' objectives: Liver tumors may be of primary or metastatic origin. An estimated 39,230 individuals in the United States will be diagnosed with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or intrahepatic bile duct cancer in 2016, among whom some 27,000 will die from the disease. No consensus exists on a single treatment strategy for patients with primary HCC or hepatic metastases. Surgery can cure early-stage disease, but most patients present with unresectable disease or multiple liver metastases from other cancers. Thermal ablation techniques such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or microwave ablation (MWA) may be used to treat patients with unresectable colorectal cancer or multiple hepatic metastases. However, these methods cause a zone of tissue destruction around the intended target that can encompass normal liver tissue and organs. Thermal methods of tumor ablation also are limited by heat sink effects. These problems drove investigation into alternative therapies, including irreversible electroporation (IRE), that seek to maintain the tumor ablative capability of thermal techniques and reduce procedure-associated adverse effects. Description of Technology: The NanoKnife System (AngioDynamics Inc.) employs IRE, a nonthermal technique for delivering multiple, directed, millisecond-long pulses of high-voltage electrical current across cell membranes. This creates numerous nanoscale-sized holes in the membrane, leading to cell death. Due to its unique mechanism, IRE causes less damage in the area of ablation compared with thermal methods. The NanoKnife System comprises a console with a screen; generator; foot pedal; and single-use, disposable electrode probes. Prior to IRE, the tumor is assessed with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging, and then the NanoKnife system generates a treatment plan using a proprietary algorithm. Electrodes are placed into the tumor under CT or ultrasonographic guidance. The device generates 90 pulses of 1500 to 3000 volts to the tumor.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2016

URL for published report: The report may be purchased from: http://www.hayesinc.com/hayes/crd/?crd=16746

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: United States

Organisation Name: HAYES, Inc.

Contact Address: 157 S. Broad Street, Suite 200, Lansdale, PA 19446, USA. Tel: 215 855 0615; Fax: 215 855 5218

Contact Name: saleinfo@hayesinc.com

Contact Email: saleinfo@hayesinc.com

Copyright: 2014 Winifred S. Hayes, Inc