Gamma knife combined with high-intensity focused ultrasound for treatment of locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma

AIM:To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of high-intensity focused ultrasound(HIFU)following gamma knife for treating locally advanced pancreatic cancer.METHODS:Sixty-eight patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer were randomly divided into two groups to receive either simple radiotherapy(group A;n = 33) or HIFU following gamma knife(group B;n = 35).The patients underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CT) scans and CA199 tests 1,2,3 mo after treatment and every 3 mo thereafter during a total of 36 mo of followup.Short-term and long-term effects were observed after treatment,and survival curve analysis was performed.RESULTS:The rate of clinical benefit response was significantly lower in group A than in group B(87.88%vs 94.29%,X~2 = 4.001,P = 0.045 < 0.05);the median survival time was significantly shorter in group A than in group B(12.00 mo vs 26.00 mo,P < 0.05);the average survival time was significantly shorter in group A than in group B(18.01 mo vs 22.99 mo,P = 0.040 < 0.05).All the patients in the two groups completed the treatment smoothly as planned,and no serious complications such as pancreatic leakage,skin burns,viscera perforation and radioactive enteritis occurred.CONCLUSION:Gamma knife combined with HIFU therapy may be a safe and effective method for the treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer.