Endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: when science tries to increases hope.

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common form of pancreatic cancer and remains the most lethal malignancy of the digestive system. Despite recent advances, surgical treatment remains the only potentially curative option. Most patients are diagnosed with locally advanced or disseminated disease, and chemotherapy is the only indicated treatment. Pancreatic resection rates in centers that do not perform vascular resection are around 15-20% of diagnosed cases, while in specialized centers with vascular expertise, they may reach 30-45%. Ablative therapies have been investigated as local alternatives for unresectable tumors. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has proven efficacy in the treatment of hepatic neoplasms, and has recently been explored in PDAC. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (EUS-RFA) represents a minimally invasive alternative for thermal ablation of pancreatic tumors. Early experience suggests that may serve as a palliative modality for pain or obstruction control, and to facilitate chemotherapy. However, this treatment is considered experimental and requires procedural standardization. Careful patient selection is essential, prioritizing cases without metastatic spread, with tumors accessible by EUS and without extensive vascular invasion. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation should not replace surgery in resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation should be considered as a palliative option within multidisciplinary protocols. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation is an isolated palliative modality, and considered an option to treat the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.