A new study has explored the effectiveness of combining transpulmonary chemoembolisation (TPCE) and microwave ablation (MWA) for treating recurrent or advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Involving 53 patients, the research aimed to assess the treatment’s impact based on the size of the largest pulmonary nodule, or index tumour size (ITS).
Patients with an ITS greater than 3 cm (n=20) received both TPCE and MWA, while those with an ITS of 3 cm or less were divided into two groups: one receiving combination therapy (n=24) and the other treated with MWA alone (n=9). Results showed a promising treatment response, with a reduction in ITS by an average of 0.91 cm after TPCE. Notably, 25% of patients with larger tumours were downgraded to a smaller tumour size, potentially allowing for more treatment options. Post-treatment, 27% of patients experienced partial responses (PR), while 73% had stable disease (SD), with no patients showing progressive disease (PD) before MWA.
However, complications were more frequent in patients with smaller tumours (ITS ≤ 3 cm), highlighting a higher risk in these cases. The median survival time (MST) across all patients was 26.7 months, with those in the ITS ≤ 3 cm group showing significantly longer survival (31.6 months vs. 15.8 months for larger tumours). The study concluded that TPCE combined with MWA could offer a viable treatment approach for managing advanced or recurrent NSCLC, with smaller tumour size being a key prognostic factor for improved survival outcomes.
Reference
Vogl T et al. Transpulmonary chemoembolization and microwave ablation for recurrent or advanced non-small cell Lung Cancer. Scientific Reports. 2024;14:25491.
