Cryoablation

Thanks for the question - cryoablation is fascinating technology, and involves freezing a lesion and then essentially letting nature run it's course. The freezing destroys the tumor cells, and the body then reabsorbs the dead cells. Cryoablation is not new technology, and has been used for some time for tumors of the liver, prostate and kidney. In my practice, it is a standard option for fibroadenomas, which are bengin breast tumors. While cryoablation is still at this time considered to be experimental for breast cancer, a national trial which hopefully should complete enrollment sometime this year is showing promising results. In addition to destroying the tumor without surgery, some early studies have suggested that there is an immune response to the the ablated tumor - anti-tumor antibodies may form...could this be a type of auto-vaccine? Time will tell, but I am so excited about the possibility to have an option besides surgery for selected patients with early stage breast cancer! Here's a link with more information about the clinical trial: http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/search/view?cdrid=600976&version=Patient&protocolsearchid=5787655

Thanks for the question, Debbie! Cryoablation is a fascinating technology when applied to breast lesions, and one that I've been involved with for almost 10 years. Cryoablation refers to a technique where the tumor is frozen "in-situ" (within the breast); the body then reabsorbs the tumor and surgery is not required. It is a standard (and FDA-cleared) treatment in my practice for benign breast tumors (fibroadenomas) and is performed in the office under local anesthesia using just a very small skin nick instead of a surgery which will leave a larger scar and has the potential for some change in the shape or size of the breast.

For breast cancers, there are several small studies suggesting that cryoablation treatment is effective. The American College of Surgeons Oncology Group has a national clinical trial evaluating cryoablation for the treatment of breast cancer - once this study is complete, we should have more information regarding how effective cryoablation will be for breast cancers, but it does appear to be a promising technology and may allow some women in the future to be treated for their breast cancer by undergoing a minimally-invasive, office based procedure. We're hoping for results from the trial within about a year.

For general information about cryoablation for breast lesions:
http://www.cfbci.com/cryoablation.html

For information regarding the ACOSOG Z1072 clinical trial:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00723294?term=ACOSOG+Z1072&rank=1

For a video of the procedure and more information:
http://www.youtube.com/user/dattaimd?feature=mhum#p/a/u/0/m40h23h-FcA

Cryoablation is being used for breast cancer, just not as standard treatment at this time. Cryoablation refers to a technique where the tumor is frozen "in-situ" (within the breast); the body then reabsorbs the tumor and surgery is not required. It is a standard treatment in my practice for benign breast tumors (fibroadenomas) and is performed in the office under local anesthesia using just a very small skin nick instead of a larger scar. For breast cancers, there are several small studies suggesting that this treatment is effective. The American College of Surgeons Oncology Group has a national clinical trial evaluating cryoablation for the treatment of breast cancer - once this study is complete, we should have more information regarding how effective cryoablation will be for breast cancers, but it does appear to be a promising technology and may allow some women to be treated effectively without surgery.