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A research team from Severance Hospital has found that irreversible electroporation (IRE), a novel cancer treatment that uses high-voltage electricity to destroy cancer cells, can significantly extend the survival of patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer, the hospital said on Tuesday.
A Severance Hospital research team, led by Professors Kim Man-deuk (left) and Kwon Joon-ho, demonstrated that irreversible electroporation (IRE) surgery can significantly extend survival for inoperable pancreatic cancer patients. (Credit: Severance Hospital)
A Severance Hospital research team, led by Professors Kim Man-deuk (left) and Kwon Joon-ho, demonstrated that irreversible electroporation (IRE) surgery can significantly extend survival for inoperable pancreatic cancer patients. (Credit: Severance Hospital)
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal cancers, with a five-year survival rate of only 15.9 percent. Only about 20 percent of patients are eligible for surgery, while most are diagnosed at an advanced stage, rendering surgical intervention impossible. Even with chemotherapy, patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer, where the tumor has invaded nearby blood vessels or organs, typically survive only six to 11 months on average.
IRE is a U.S.-developed technology widely used worldwide. It was first introduced in Korea at Severance Hospital in 2016 and has recently been recognized as an advanced medical technology. The procedure involves inserting three to six electrodes around the tumor and applying high-voltage electricity—over 3,000 volts, more than ten times the voltage of a standard household outlet—to destroy cancer cells. Unlike thermal ablation techniques, IRE does not rely on heat, minimizing damage to surrounding blood vessels and tissues.
The treatment works by creating microscopic pores in cancer cell membranes, disrupting intracellular balance and causing cell death. Additionally, the release of cancer cell components through these pores triggers an immune response, potentially enhancing the body’s ability to fight cancer.
To prove the efficacy of IRE, the team, led by Professors Kim Man-deuk and Kwon Joon-ho from the Department of Radiology at Severance Hospital, conducted a study on 13 pancreatic cancer patients who were not candidates for surgery.
In the study, patients who underwent IRE treatment showed a notable increase in survival time. The average post-procedure survival period increased from 11–14 months with conventional IRE to 20.7 months.
Meanwhile, the total survival period from diagnosis improved from 17–27 months to an average of 43.9 months, marking an extension of up to 26 months.
The research also highlighted improvements in procedural efficiency. The study utilized the EPO-IRE system, an advanced IRE device developed by Korean medical technology company The Standard.
Traditional IRE systems require electrodes to be placed in parallel at exact intervals of 1.5–2 cm, which demands significant expertise. In contrast, the EPO-IRE system uses a clustered electrode design, allowing multiple electrodes to be inserted at once. This improves accuracy and cuts procedure time by more than 50 percent.
However, Professor Kim cautioned that IRE is not suitable for tumors that have metastasized or grown excessively large.
“Although the study involved a limited number of patients and requires further research, our findings suggest that IRE can be a viable option for patients who cannot undergo surgery or have limited chemotherapy options due to drug resistance or side effects,” Kim said.
Professor Kim is set to present the clinical results at the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) meeting in Nashville, the U.S., on March 30. The abstract of the study was also published in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology.
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Lee Han-soo corea022@docdocdoc.co.kr
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