Modulated Electro-Hyperthermic (mEHT) Treatment in the Therapy of Inoperable Pancreatic Cancer Patients—A Single-Center Case-Control Study
Effect on survival
Summary
This study investigates the effects of Electro-hyperthermia on patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), supporting the perspectives with the improvements of the treatment possibilities. A trend in favor of mEHT was found in overall survival. mEHT treatment was associated with improved overall survival in PDAC in our single-center retrospective case-control study .
Patients characteristics
78 patients ages 45-84 years old with median age of 67 with confirmed and histologically diagnosed with stage-III and -IV pancreatic cancer.
Methodology
The EHY2030 device (Oncotherm) was used to administer the complementary mEHT treatment. Case patients underwent at least 21 mEHT treatment. Each session lasted between 30–60 min, with a step-up power output between 60–150 W, until reaching the patients’ maximum tolerability.
Treatment
All patients are divided into two groups: mEHT group (n=39) and control group (n=39). All patients were treated with standard-of-care chemotherapy regimens, which were decided at the tumor board sessions individually.
Results
No special adverse event due to conducting mEHT was observed throughout the study. Overall survival of inoperable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma; in control group (n=39) 48 months (20%) and in mEHT group (n=39) is 46 months (30%). If the tumor is in head of pancreas, the overall survival in control group (n=26) is 48 months (30%) and in mEHT group (n=20) is 35 months (40%), If the tumor is in the body/tail of pancreas, the overall survival in control group (n=13) is 19 months (60%) and in mEHT group (n=19) is 47 months (52%). Modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT) treatment has a significant beneficial effect if the tumor is located in the body/tail of the pancreas.The progression-free survival (PFS) in mEHT with metastasis (n=20) is 18 months (30%) and without metastasis (n=19) is 35 months (30%).The progression-free survival (PFS) in control group with metastasis (n=24) is 18 months (25%) and without metastasis (n=15) is 32 months (40%).
Conclusion
This shows that the addition of mEHT as a complementary treatment in inoperable PDAC improves overall survival, significantly better results can be achieved in ascitic and metastatic cases.