Cryoablation: A promising non-operative therapy for low-risk breast cancer

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of cryoablation for early-stage low-risk breast cancer without tumor resection. Methods: Women diagnosed with ER+, PR+, and HER2-infiltrating ductal carcinomas <= 1.5 cm were treated with cryoablation. The non-surgical procedure used a Visica (S) 2 Treatment System with ultrasound guidance for ablation of the tumor with a 1 cm margin. Patients were monitored at 6-month intervals by MRI, mammogram, and ultrasound. Results: Twelve patients with unifocal breast cancer were treated with cryoablation for local control without follow-up tumor resection. All patients received adjuvant endocrine therapy, and none had radiation. The median follow-up was 28.5 (range = 4-41) months with 11 patients having at least one six-month follow-up. All imaging modalities showed complete ablation of target zone 11/11 (100%). Four patients (33.3%) have been followed up for >= 2 years with no local failure or residual disease. Conclusion: Cryoablation of early-stage low-risk (ER+, PR+, and HER2-) breast cancer is a safe alternative to surgery. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.