Nonsurgical lumpectomy technique under investigation at UC Davis Cancer Center.(Brief Article)

2002 APR 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- An experimental technique that destroys breast cancer cells without surgery is under evaluation at UC Davis Cancer Center. Instead of cutting out a tumor, the experimental technique uses radio wave energy to kill cancer cells deep inside the breast.

Vijay Khatri, assistant professor of surgery at UC Davis Cancer Center, John McGahan, professor of radiology, and Bijan Bijan, assistant professor of radiology, are leading a pilot study to evaluate the technique's effectiveness. The investigators are ready to enroll about 30 Sacramento-area women with very small, early stage breast tumors in the study.

Because the technique is experimental, all of the women will undergo a conventional lumpectomy or mastectomy following the radio wave treatment. After this conventional surgery, researchers will carefully examine the excised breast tissue to confirm that all cancer was eradicated by the radio wave treatment.

If the pilot trial finds radio wave treatment to be effective in killing the tumor cells, the technique could offer advantages over lumpectomy. "There are two potential advantages of the new technique," Khatri said. "First, you don't have to make a big incision. Second, you kill only the tumor and a very thin layer of tissue surrounding it. In a ...