Why ablation for early-stage tumors?
Cancer is a global scourge. It is estimated that 1 in 5 men and 1 in 6 women will develop cancer during their lifetime*. But it's not hopeless. Significant progress has been made in recent years regarding cancer prevention, detection, and diagnosis, and the curative field shows promise. This is precisely where Quantum Surgical comes in. * Source Globocan
What is interventional oncology?
Over the past decades, several cancer treatments have been developed including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, and sometimes less known, interventional procedures. The choice of the treatment option and combination are critical and depends on the tumor type, cancer stage, and multiple clinical parameters which an oncologist will assess.
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells. It is a systemic treatment that can reach cancer cells throughout the body, making it suitable for treating cancers that have spread (metastasized). Chemotherapy is commonly used for a wide range of cancers and may be administered before or after surgery.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to target and destroy cancer cells. It is often used to shrink tumors, alleviate symptoms, and prevent cancer from recurring. Radiation therapy can be delivered externally (external beam radiation) or internally (brachytherapy) depending on the cancer type and location.
Surgery involves the removal of the cancerous tumor and surrounding tissues. It is often used to treat localised cancers and can be curative in some cases. The goal of surgery is to eliminate as much of the cancer as possible while preserving healthy tissue and organs.
Interventional oncology (IO) focuses on the use of minimally invasive, image-guided procedures to diagnose, treat, and manage various types of cancer. Interventional oncologists are trained physicians who use advanced imaging techniques, such as ultrasound, CT scans, MRI, and fluoroscopy, to guide their procedures and precisely target tumors and cancerous tissues.
Interventional oncology procedures are generally less invasive than traditional surgery and can be performed on an outpatient or day-surgery basis. They offer several advantages, including reduced post-operative pain, shorter recovery times, and minimal damage to healthy tissues surrounding the tumor.
What is percutaneous ablation?
Percutaneous ablation is a minimally-invasive technique used in interventional oncology as an alternative to surgery. It involves the insertion of a thin needle or probe through the skin (percutaneously) and into the targeted area to destroy or remove the tumor. These procedures are performed by interventional radiologists under imaging guidance, typically with CT-scan or ultrasound, to precisely guide the needle to the tumor site.
Types of percutaneous ablation
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) generates heat with radiofrequency waves to destroy cancerous or abnormal tissue.
Microwave ablation (MWA) generates heat with microwave energy to destroy cancerous or abnormal tissue. This technique can be more effective in larger tumors and has a faster treatment time compared to RFA.
Cryoablation (Cryo) uses extreme cold that rapidly cools the surrounding tissues, leading to the formation of an ice ball that will damage and kill the cells.
Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) involves the application of short, intense electric pulses to the target tissue to destroy the cancer cells.
Benefits of percutaneous ablation
- Very small tumors can be treated even at an early stage
- Treatment is better targeted, leading to minimal damage to healthy tissues surrounding the tumor
- Treatment is less invasive, thus more comfortable for the patient
- Pain is reduced
- Patient recovery time is shorter
- Procedure can be outpatient, requiring shorter hospitalization
- May be a treatment option for patients not eligible for surgery
Why is percutaneous ablation underutilized?
Percutaneous ablation is underutilized as a first-line treatment for cancer patients due to several compounding issues:
Procedural complexity1,2
Skilled physician shortage3,4
Limited patient qualification4,5,6
Limited hospital resources7,8
A patient's story
The need for minimally invasive ablation treatment is profound
Lungs
- 2,200,000 new cases every year
- #1 Cancer new cases diagnosed every year for men, #2 for woman
- 800 000 death - #1 death cause
- Smoking
Liver
- 906,677 new cases every year
- #5 Cancer diagnosis for men, #9 for woman
- 830 180 death - #3 deathliest cancer
- Obesity, alcohol, smoking
Pancreas
- 495,777 new cases every year
- #13 Cancer diagnosis
- 466,003 death - #7 deadliest cancer
- Obesity, alcohol, smoking
Kidneys
- 431,288 new cases every year
- #15 cancer diagnosis
- 179,368 death - #16 deadliest cause
- Obesity, alcohol, smoking
Where to find Epione
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, or nearly one in six deaths. The most common causes of cancer death in 2020 were:
• lung (1.80 million deaths);
• colon and rectum (916 000 deaths);
• stomach (769 000 deaths);
• and breast (685 000 deaths).
Epione® can be used to treat liver, kidneys, pancreas and lung tumors. And specifically, early-stage, hard to reach tumors. A clinical study has been launched in September 2024 to assess Epione’s performance to treat bone tumors and metastasis.
Percutaneous ablation is a great alternative to surgery and offer many benefits to patients:
• Very small tumors can be treated even at an early stage
• The treatment is better targeted and therefore leads to minimal damage to healthy tissues surrounding the tumor
• The treatment is less invasive
• The pain is reduced
• The recovery time is shorter for patients and a shorter time hospitalization
• Procedure can be outpatient and more easy
• Can treat patients who have not been eligible for surgery