Pulsed Electric Field Therapy Emerges as New Treatment for Lung Cancer Patients
Pulsed electric field therapy, a nonthermal ablation technique using irreversible electroporation, is being deployed for metastatic lung nodules in patients with advanced cancer resistant to standard treatments.
WVU Medicine has become the first health care system in West Virginia to implement pulsed electric field (PEF) therapy for metastatic lung nodules. The procedure starts with a bronchoscope threaded down the airway to a lesion in the lung. Once in place, an electric current is delivered through the tip of a needle.
Called pulsed electric field — or PEF — the procedure provides pulse therapy to the tumor cell to help prolong survival of the patient. Unlike radiofrequency ablation or cryoablation, which use extreme heat or cold, PEF is a nonthermal technique. It utilizes irreversible electroporation—high-voltage electric currents—to create microscopic pores in cancer cell membranes, inducing cell death without damaging adjacent vital structures like airways or blood vessels.
The process destroys the cell's membrane and ultimately the entire cancer cell. The latest approach is non-thermal and comes with zero damage to the surrounding tissue. PEF appears to induce an immune response in the body to finish the job. Beyond local destruction, it is believed to induce both localized and systemic immune responses. By "priming" the immune system, PEF may bolster the efficacy of subsequent lines of systemic therapy, helping to stabilize the disease and prevent further progression.
This innovative approach provides a vital new line of defense for patients with advanced malignancies that have become resistant to standard systemic treatments. For patients with stage IV disease, the clinical objective often shifts from eradication to managing the cancer as a chronic condition. While chemotherapy and immunotherapy remain the standard of care, many patients eventually exhaust these options.
The integration of PEF is further enhanced by robotic-assisted technology. At WVU Medicine, surgeons utilize robotic bronchoscopy to navigate the lung's complex pathways, reaching difficult peripheral nodules with high precision. To further validate this modality, the institution is participating in the PROPEL registry, a multicenter trial tracking patient outcomes.
PEF can be used on other organs where disease is present. Looking ahead, researchers hope to expand PEF's applications to early-stage disease, potentially offering a noninvasive alternative to surgery or radiation.