Nanoknife for pancreatic cancer

Posted by hopefulandpositive @hopefulandpositive, Apr 10, 2024

Hi,
My husband was diagnosed with pancreatic adenocarcinoma 7 months ago. It is inoperable because it is wrapped tightly around superior mesenteric artery. He has done 12 cycles of chemo (oxaliplatin, irinotecan and floururacil) but tumor has not shrunk but it hasn't spread/grew either. We were told that continuing chemo after this many sessions is not good for his bone marrow and another chemo regimen is unlikely to going to help if 5FU didn't. We are given an option to go through Nanoknife procedure to "freeze" the tumor. The surgeon said he has done 200 procedures in the last 7 years and there are still some patients who haven't had any additional growth. Does anyone have experience with nanoknife? How was it? Any concerns? Just trying to get more information on this procedure as we were told to make a decision as soon as possible as the tumor hasn't spread to other organs yet and he will no longer be a candidate if it presents spread.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Pancreatic Cancer Support Group.

stageivsurvivor | @stageivsurvivor | Sep 1 10:31am

In reply to @kbower1611 "Is the cyber knife the same as the Nanoknife?" + (show)

No, they are totally unrelated and used for different applications. CyberKnike is the brand/marketing name for a type of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy device. NanoKnife is the marketing name by the company Angiodynamics that makes a system for Irreversible Electroporation (IRE). Entirely different procedures for different applications.

kbower1611 | @kbower1611 | Sep 1 11:23am

Thank you! I guess I will have to look them up. I asked my clinical trial Doctor about Cyber knife for tumors in the liver.

kbower1611 | @kbower1611 | Sep 1 11:35am

In reply to @kbower1611 "Thank you! I guess I will have to look them up. I asked my clinical trial..." + (show)

I was on a clinical trial but it did not work. I have a rare type of mutation KRAS Q61. I have had 4 liver biopsy since the beginning of the year. My last one he sent 9 samples in house for studies. Also he has sent them for genetic testing and different mutations. I have a meeting with him on Wednesday I found another place that does genetic testing so I am going to see what he says about this place. Thanks again for the information.

carlajones101 | @carlajones101 | Oct 6 12:10pm

Having the nanoknife procedure next month because chemo has been so difficult (10 sessions) and I am not a candidate for whipple. Will keep u posted.

keepingoptimistic | @keepingoptimistic | Oct 7 11:47am

Who is doing it and where?

carlajones101 | @carlajones101 | Oct 7 12:30pm

In reply to @keepingoptimistic "Who is doing it and where?" + (show)

@keepingoptimistic Dr Donoway florida

rosebella | @rosebella | Oct 8 2:09pm

https://www.mdanderson.org/cancer-types/pancreatic-cancer.html
We will be going there in Dec for a 2nd opinion. We were immediately assigned a Nurse Navigator from the GI Cancer Center who regularly calls us for updates, answers questions, and has really made the process smooth. Additionally, we will be lodging at the Hotel owned by MD Anderson, run by Marriott, that is connected to the hospital through a walkway. The process of getting medical records, pathology slides, and digital imaging transferred has all occurred without any issues.

joealp1 | @joealp1 | Oct 9 1:18pm

In reply to @carlajones101 "Having the nanoknife procedure next month because chemo has been so difficult (10 sessions) and I..." + (show)

@carlajones101
Good luck. Hope your objectives are achieved. I'm looking at nanoknife for the same reason, will look forward to your results. I'll have an update next month, will share.

carlajones101 | @carlajones101 | Oct 10 4:26pm

Yes I'll inform u as well. Thanks❤️

stageivsurvivor | @stageivsurvivor | Oct 11 4:34am

I know of a patient who is a stage IV survivor and was young when she underwent the NanoKnife procedure by surgeon Robert Nartin at University of Louisville in Kentucky. She is a 13 year survivor and cancer-free-likely having achieved cure. Her name is Elise Tedeschi and I attended an AACR pancreas meeting last week in Boston. You can contact her through the SeenaMagowitzFoundation.org website.

For stage III patients non-resectable by Whipple when extensive vascular involvement exists, NanoKnife/IRE has been an option for some with a xceptionalnresults such as Elise has experienced.