Dual thermal ablation modality of solid tumors in a mouse model

Abstract

Purpose: Develop a new combination therapy consisting of cryoablation and conductive high-temperature ablation for enhanced thermal ablation of solid tumors. Methods:We have constructed an invasive probe that can be used for consecutive cryoablation and hightemperature ablation (C/HTA), with a single insertion. The C/HTA probe was tested, in Balb/c mice bearing solid 4T1 tumors, in comparison to cryoablation and high temperature ablation, only. Three days after ablation, the diameter of the ablated zone was evaluated with pathological examination.Results: The C/HTA device can be used to induce larger ablation zones, in comparison to high temperature or cryoablation alone, and at lower thermal doses and temperatures than either modality alone. Conclusions:The relatively high thermal conductivity of ice, in comparison to water and native tissue, enables rapid heating of the ice-ball that result in improved conductive high temperature ablation. The new dual thermal modality improves ablation outcomes at lower thermal doses in comparison to a single ablation modality.

Dual thermal ablation of pancreatic cancer cells as an improved combinatorial treatment strategy

“…It has been suggested by Shafirstein et al. that such a combination could result in improved tumor ablation [36]. In contrast to the thermal model utilized by Shafirstein et al where breast cancer was frozen prior to a rapid heating, we investigated first heating the target tissue followed by freezing to achieve cancer ablation.…”

“…As such, thermal ablation is typically applied as a monotherapy in a repeat exposure protocol. While repeat exposure of a mono thermal treatment (freezing or heating) is standard practice for many cancers, there are only a few reports investigating the use of heating and freezing in combination as a therapeutic protocol to ablate cancerous tumors [35,36]). As such, a DTA protocol (heat then freeze) was investigated as a potential treatment path for PaCa.…”