RFA with a LeVeen Needle Electrode in Early Breast Cancer

Abstract

RFA in breast cancer represents a promising alternative strategy for the treatment of breast-conserving surgery (BCS). While RFA is often used worldwide for thermal ablation therapy of liver cancer, there are some limitations in the application of RFA to breast cancer. Breast cancer usually has extensive intraductal components (EIC) beyond the primary tumor. However, an ablated lesion should be localized to prevent burning of the skin and pectoral muscle. Thus, RFA should be limited to early breast cancer without EIC. We first conducted a feasibility study on RFA followed by BCS in early breast cancer in 2005. We demonstrated that the pathological complete ablation rate was 87 % based on a histological diagnosis by HE staining and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide diaphorase staining. Since modern breast-conserving treatment consists of BCS, breast irradiation, and adjuvant therapy based on the intrinsic subtype of breast cancer, our result suggests that RFA is acceptable for the local control of early breast cancer. Since then, a phase II trial on RFA without breast surgery has been performed. In this chapter, we discuss our experience with RFA in breast cancer and its future prospects.