Trial results investigating ultrasonography (US)-guided percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) ablation with endocrine therapy for breast cancer were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2025-10-01. The study enrolled 21 participants, reporting recurrence data at one and five years for elderly patients who declined or were not candidates for surgery.
Background
Breast cancer is a prevalent malignancy, with treatment often involving surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and endocrine therapy, depending on the cancer's stage and characteristics. For certain patient populations, such as elderly individuals or those with comorbidities, surgery may not be a viable option. In such cases, less invasive or alternative treatment strategies are explored to manage the disease and improve patient outcomes. This trial investigated a non-surgical approach combining radiofrequency ablation with endocrine therapy for this specific patient group.
Trial design
This completed study, which did not specify a phase (NA), enrolled 21 participants with Breast Cancer. The trial's objective was to determine the efficacy and tolerance of ultrasonography (US)-guided percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) ablation combined with endocrine therapy in elderly patients with breast cancer who either declined or were not candidates for surgery. The intervention involved US-RF ablation alongside endocrine therapy.
Key results
The trial reported the following key measurements regarding disease recurrence:
- Number of Participants With Disease Recurrence One Year After the Intervention: Among participants receiving US-RF + Endocrine Therapy, 1 participant experienced disease recurrence.
- Number of Participants With Disease Recurrence at 5 Years: Among participants receiving US-RF + Endocrine Therapy, 4 participants experienced disease recurrence.
What this means
For elderly patients with breast cancer who are unable or unwilling to undergo surgery, the combination of US-guided radiofrequency ablation and endocrine therapy presents an alternative treatment approach. The reported recurrence rates, with 1 participant experiencing recurrence at one year and 4 participants at five years out of 21 enrolled, provide initial data on the long-term outcomes of this non-surgical strategy. These findings offer valuable information for clinicians and patients considering treatment options beyond conventional surgery in this specific demographic.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for study NCT00210223, titled "Radiofrequency of Breast Cancers in Non Surgical Patients", were posted on 2025-10-01 on clinicaltrials.gov.