Professor, Department of Medicine
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Maximizing the Efficacy of Endoscopic Ultrasound–Guided Radiofrequency Ablation for Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (PNETs)
Overview
Focus: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs)
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) are the second most common type of pancreatic malignancy and are being diagnosed with increasing frequency. Until recently, surgery was the only curative option for localized disease. Even when performed using minimally invasive techniques, surgery can carry significant risks and long-term complications. While some small PanNETs have a low risk of metastasis, long-term studies show that tumor progression and lymph node spread can still occur over time. Alternatives to surgery have emerged but none have been rigorously evaluated. These strategies may include long-term treatment with somatostatin receptor inhibitors (e.g. octreotide or its long-term analogue, lanreotide) or local ablation.
Our research has focused on defining the most effective currently available strategy for local ablation, endoscopic ultrasound guided radiofrequency ablation (EUS RFA). EUS RFA is a less invasive alternative to surgery and allows physicians to target and destroy tumors from within the gastrointestinal tract, potentially reducing complications while preserving pancreatic function.
