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World J Gastroenterol. Mar 7, 2014; 20(9): 2267-2278
Published online Mar 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i9.2267
Systematic review of novel ablative methods in locally advanced pancreatic cancer
Margaret G Keane, Konstantinos Bramis, Stephen P Pereira, Giuseppe K Fusai
Margaret G Keane, Stephen P Pereira, Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, Royal Free Campus, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom
Konstantinos Bramis, Giuseppe K Fusai, HPB and Liver Transplant Unit, Royal Free Hospital, London NW3 2QG, United Kingdom
Author contributions: Keane MG and Bramis K performed the systematic review and wrote the article; Pereira SP and Fusai GK conceived the idea for the article, reviewed and edited the manuscript.
Supported by National Institutes of Health Grant PO1CA84203; The work was undertaken at UCLH/UCL, which receives a proportion of funding from the Department of Health’s National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centres funding scheme; A CRUK research bursary to Keane MG
Correspondence to: Giuseppe K Fusai, MS, FRCS, HPB and Liver Transplant Unit, Royal Free Hospital, London NW3 2QG, United Kingdom. g.fusai@nhs.net
Telephone: +44-20-77940500 Fax: +44-20-78302960
Received: October 27, 2013
Revised: December 11, 2013
Accepted: January 8, 2014
Published online: March 7, 2014
Processing time: 130 Days and 9.1 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer with or without metastatic disease is associated with a very poor prognosis. Current standard therapy is limited to chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Few regimens have been shown to have a substantial survival advantage and novel treatment strategies are urgently needed. Initial studies of ablation in the pancreas were associated with significant morbidity and mortality, which limited widespread adoption. Modifications to the various applications, in particular combining the techniques with high quality imaging such as computed tomography and intraoperative or endoscopic ultrasound has enabled real time treatment monitoring and significant improvements in safety.