New technologies for pancreatic cancer treatment

Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor of the digestive tract that is highly malignant and difficult to diagnose and treat. It is hailed as the "king of cancer" by the medical profession. The 5-year survival rate is less than 1%, which is the worst prognosis of all malignant tumors. Its morbidity and mortality have increased significantly in recent years. The early diagnosis rate of pancreatic cancer is not high, the surgical mortality is high, and the cure rate is very low. Italian tenor singer Pavarotti, "fatty" Shen Dianxia, and Apple founder Steve Jobs all died of pancreatic cancer.

Like most tumors, there has not been a treatment plan to completely cure pancreatic cancer. Patients should use surgical radiotherapy and chemotherapy as the main treatment methods, and cooperate with other new technologies for multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment.

Speed Knife is the most advanced non-invasive tumor removal technology to date and is an upgraded version of the wave knife. It can treat benign or malignant solid tumors in any part, especially those near important organs or major blood vessels and nerves. The 1-year and 2-year survival rates of patients with stage II pancreatic cancer treated by Speed Knife were 76.9% and 46.7%, respectively, and the overall 1–5 year survival rates of patients with stage I and II pancreatic cancer were 67.7%, 34.4%, 29.6%, 20.7%, and 17.3%, with a median survival time of 17 months. The five-year survival rate is increased from 5% to 17%, while the risk is low, the pain is small, and the cost is low.

Nano-knife is derived from irreversible electroporation technology (IRE). Its principle is to use the powerful electric field emitted by high-voltage direct current to destroy the structure of the cell membrane and produce multiple pores in the cell membrane, making it irreversibly destroy the cells and causing immediate cell death. Compared with surgery or other radio frequency and cryoablation techniques, the advantage is that it will not cause irreversible damage to other important tissues such as blood vessels, bile ducts, and nerves. Data from the University of Louisville indicate that the combination of nano-knife and general treatment can double the overall survival rate of patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Proton therapy leverages the physical properties of protons to store energy at a specific depth, known as the Bragg peak. After reaching this depth, the proton achieves rapid energy attenuation, resulting in little or no radiation dose absorbed by normal tissues, thereby reducing treatment toxicity. Patients can be assisted in accessing proton therapy in the United States, Germany, Italy, Japan, Taiwan, and other regions.

Electric field therapy, approved by the US FDA, affects tumor cell division through a low-intensity, low-frequency electrostatic wave electric field, resulting in cancer cell apoptosis. Its biggest feature is that it does not damage the immune system, has no significant side effects, does not harm normal cells, and can effectively prevent recurrence and metastasis. It can be used in conjunction with surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Currently, electric field treatment is carried out in the United States, Japan, and Israel.

Gene targeted therapy through genetic testing is a milestone achievement in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Also known as "missile therapy," it has high selectivity and can strike cancer cells stably. Through genetic testing, oncologists can use targeted drugs to effectively treat pancreatic cancer and prolong patient lives. Targeted drugs for pancreatic cancer mutant genes EGFR and mTOR mainly include erlotinib and everolimus.

Cellular immunotherapy is a method of in vitro cultivation and expansion of healthy human immune cells that are then introduced into the patient's body to stimulate and enhance the body's own immune function. Allogeneic umbilical cord blood stem cell immunotherapy, achieved by taking fetal umbilical cord blood immune cells and hematopoietic stem cells for cultivation and reintroducing them into the patient's body, has achieved good therapeutic effects and can effectively cooperate with surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy to eliminate cancer cells and improve the five-year survival time.