What Is the Role of Irreversible Electroporation for Pancreatic Cancer?

Robert C G Martin 2nd; Christopher D Wilson

doi:10.1016/j.yasu.2025.04.011

What Is the Role of Irreversible Electroporation for Pancreatic Cancer?

Adv Surg. 2025 Sep;59(1):47-75. doi: 10.1016/j.yasu.2025.04.011. Epub 2025 Jun 12.

Authors

Robert C G Martin 2nd¹, Christopher D Wilson²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Surgical Oncology, Hiram C Polk Department of Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 315 E. Broadway - M10 - Room#311, Louisville, KY 40202, USA. Electronic address: Robert.Martin@louisville.edu.
² Division of Surgical Oncology, Hiram C Polk Department of Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 315 E. Broadway - M10 - Room#311, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.

PMID: 40769705
DOI: 10.1016/j.yasu.2025.04.011

Abstract

Irreversible electroporation (IRE) has proven itself to be a viable surgical intervention for patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer and locally-advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). IRE has demonstrated encouraging survival and response outcomes when combined with induction chemotherapy versus patient populations that receive chemotherapy and/or chemo-radiation therapy alone. The optimal management of patients with LAPC is evolving quickly with the advent of improved IRE implementation. This article will present the current status of the role of IRE in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Keywords: Irreversible electroporation; Multi-disciplinary care; Optimal timing; Pancreatic adenocarcinoma; Patient selection.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Ablation Techniques* / methods
Electroporation* / methods
Humans
Pancreatic Neoplasms* / pathology
Pancreatic Neoplasms* / surgery
Pancreatic Neoplasms* / therapy