HIFU is safe, effective, and feasible in pancreatic cancer patients: a monocentric retrospective study among 523 patients.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) combined with gemcitabine (GEM) in treating unresectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Patients and methods: A total of 523 unresectable PDAC patients were recruited from December 30, 2007 to January 30, 2015 at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center. Among them, 347 received HIFU combined with GEM (with regional intra-arterial chemotherapy [RIAC] or with systemic chemotherapy) and the remaining patients received GEM only. Postoperative complications were observed, and overall survival was recorded.

Results: The median overall survival of patients who received HIFU combined with GEM vs GEM alone was 7.4 vs 6.0 months ( P =0.002); the 6-month, 10-month, 1-year, and 2-year survival rates for patients in these two groups were 66.3% vs 47.5% ( P <0.0001), 31.12% vs 15.9% ( P <0.0001), 21.32% vs 13.64% ( P =0.033), and 2.89% vs 2.27% ( P =0.78), respectively. In the combined therapy group, the most obvious survival benefits were obtained among patients who received HIFU plus RIAC and systemic chemotherapy (used in the intervals between RIAC treatments). There were no severe complications in patients undergoing HIFU treatment.

Conclusion: We demonstrated the survival benefit of HIFU among PDAC patients treated with GEM. The benefit was most obvious in PDAC patients treated with HIFU plus RIAC and systemic chemotherapy.