Study Highlights Cryoablation as an Effective Non-Surgical Treatment for Breast Cancer

Since 2020, 2.3 million new cases of breast cancer have been reported, and researchers say that it is the most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide.Depending on the type and stage of breast cancer, various treatment options are available, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, and a newer treatment called cryoablation — a process that kills cancer tumors by freezing them. This new research provides evidence suggesting cryoablation may also effectively treat large breast cancer tumors. The findings have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. 

This study involves 60 participants who underwent cryoablation since they were not able to have surgery. Traditionally, the standard of care for patients with breast cancer is to have surgery to remove the tumor. However, there are many patients who are not candidates for surgery. For instance, they may be older, have too many comorbidities that prohibit them from having surgery, or are on a blood thinner that they cannot come off of. 

Some comorbidities, such as heart disease or high blood pressure, can increase the risks associated with traditional surgical options. Cryoablation gives these patients another option to treat their cancer. 

Cryoablation is a minimally invasive treatment that uses imaging guidance, such as ultrasound or a computed tomography (CT) scan, to locate tumors.An interventional radiologist will then insert small, needle-like probes emitting extremely cold temperatures at the tumor’s location to create an ice ball that surrounds the tumor, killing the cancer cells. 

When combined with hormonal therapy and radiation, patients can have nearly 100% of their tumors destroyed. If the tumors grow, patients can be treated with cryoablation multiple times to control growth. 

The cryoablation procedures for this study were conducted with local anesthesia or minimal sedation. The procedure included a free-thaw cycle encompassing five to 10 minutes of freezing, 5 to 8 minutes of passive thaw, and another five to 10 minutes of freezing at 100% intensity. Participants were able to go home the same day after treatment. Breast cancer tumor sizes amongst the study participants ranged in size from 0.3 to 9 cm with a 2.5 cm average size. 

During cryoablation, participants with tumors larger than 1.4 cm were treated with one probe for each tumor centimeter. When researchers followed up on study participants after a median period of 16 months, they found the recurrence rate was only 10%. Researchers can only hope that these results give those with breast cancer additional options to treat their cancer. The procedure is available to patients now, and they encourage all patients to discuss with their doctor which treatment option is best for their unique case.