Freezing technique shows promise in treating breast cancer

The technique known as ‘image-guided, multiprobe cryotherapy’ involves inserting several needle-like "cryoprobes" into the tumor and then passing very low temperature gas through them, reported the Press Association.

Following this, an “ice ball” is created around each tumor site, which eventually freezes and destroys the malignant tumors.

13 breast cancer patients examined
Researchers at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit studied 13 breast cancer patients who had refused to go in for surgery for tumor removal.

These patients had a total of 25 tumors varying in size from 0.5 centimeters to 5.8 centimeters.

For the research, the patients were given local anesthesia with mild sedation. Then they were administered an average three probes per tumor through ultrasound alone or ultrasound using computed tomography (CT) imaging.

The probes produced “ice balls” ranging from 2 cm to 10 cm depending on the size of the tumor, reported the WebMD.

Results of the study
On analysis, the doctors found that the patients showed no clinical evidence of cancer recurrence and remained cancer free even after five years following the treatment.

In most of the patients, healing of the frozen area was reported within six months of the treatment. All of them reported just mild pain but highest satisfaction health wise post treatment.

Lead researcher Dr Peter Littrup, from the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, US, who has pioneered the freezing technique, was quoted by Press Association as saying, "Minimally-invasive cryotherapy opens the door for a potential new treatment for breast cancer and needs to be further tested.

"When used for local control and/or potential cure of breast cancer, it provided safe and effective breast conservation with minimal discomfort for a group of women who refused invasive surgery or had a local recurrence and needed additional management.

"This is the first reported study of successfully freezing breast cancer without having to undergo surgery afterward to prove that it was completely treated."

He believes that the procedure has the potential to treat many types of cancer and that it can treat even the large tumors.

Though findings of the study appear to be 'significant,' the researchers have outlined the need for more research to confirm the findings in larger trials.

Findings of the study were presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology’s 35th Annual Scientific Meeting in Florida.