Irreversible electroporation ablation for the treatment of malignant tumors of liver: present clinical situation / 介入放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

The incidence of liver cancer has been increasing year by year.In China,the incidence of liver cancer is 25.7/10 million.However,when the important organs have been involved or when the malignant liver tumors are located adjacent to the hepatic portal vital organs,the lesions are usually difficult to be surgically removed,and the curative results of chemotherapy and radiotherapy for such lesions are often poor.In recent years,along with the gradual rise of ablation techniques,the irreversible electroporation (IRE),regarded as a new ablation method that uses non-thermal energy,has been widely employed in clinical practice.Through generating instantaneous high voltage electrical pulses,IRE produces irreversible nanoscale damage to the cell membrane.Both domestic and foreign researches have indicated that for the treatment of inoperable primary or metastatic liver tumors IRE can effectively inactivate the tumor tissue while the lumen architecture of the vessels can be preserved and large vessel or bile duct will not be damaged.This paper aims to make a comprehensive review about IRE device structure,mechanism of therapeutic action,preclinical studies,clinical application methods and clinical efficacy in order to provide reference for the application of this technology in clinical practice.(J Intervent Radiol,2017,26285-289)