Radiofrequency ablation therapy: results in 100 patients with breast cancer.

CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2008 Abstracts Abstract #5153 Background: Radiofrequency ablation therapy (RFA) is one of the most minimally invasive approaches for the treatment of hepatic cancers and other solid malignancies. The aim of this study is to assess the safety and local controllability of RFA against breast cancer. Patients and Methods: A total of 100 pts with localized early breast cancer were enrolled. Ductal spreading and/or daughter nodules were preoperatively checked with mammography, ultrasound and MRI. Tumor size was 0.5-2.0cm (median 1.5cm). LeVeen system and Cool-tip RF system was used in 5 pts and 95 pts respectively. One session of RFA was applied to 96 pts, 2 sessions to 4 pts. To avoid skin burn, 5% glucose was injected subcutaneously just above the tumor and the skin was cooled during RFA. After completing RFA, temperatures along the needle tract were measured at 1 cm intervals in 89 pts. All pts underwent cytological and MR-imaging study 3-4 weeks after operation, and received adjuvant radiotherapy (50Gy) to the breast. Results: RFA heated the tumors up to over 60° in 1 pt, 70° in 4 pts, 80° in 21 pts, 90° in 51 pts, and 100° in 13 pts. Skin burn was found in 2 pts over the tumor, and 1 pt at the grounding pads. No major side effects except for skin burn were found. Postoperative cytological and imaging study showed complete ablation of all the target tumors. No pts developed local and distant recurrence for 16-54 months (median 31 months). Discussion: Our RFA procedures can offer good local control without serious adverse events to breast cancer patients. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 5153.