Treatment of lung cancer often requires a multidisciplinary approach, involving many specialists working together. Such treatment plans can involve minimally invasive approaches such as PEF ablation and robotic surgery, as well as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.
Using minimally invasive techniques aims to reduce recovery times and improve outcomes. The CTOC pulmonary team at Providence Saint John’s Health Center is highly experienced, treating thousands of lung patients each year and continuously embarking on innovative treatment approaches. We are proud to introduce a new option for select patients: Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) ablation delivered during bronchoscopy.
What is PEF Ablation?
PEF ablation is a non-thermal treatment that uses short, high-voltage electrical pulses to destroy tumor cells. Unlike traditional ablation techniques that rely on heat or freezing, PEF preserves nearby blood vessels, airways, and connective tissues—making it especially beneficial for tumors in the most delicate areas of the lung. This treatment method may give patients additional options for care, especially those with surgical complications or may be undergoing other treatments.
Delivered via a small needle during bronchoscopy, PEF ablation also has the advantage of triggering an anti-tumor immune response and can improve the effectiveness of other cancer therapies, such as immunotherapy. This is not typical of other ablative techniques.
Why the Bronchoscopic Approach Matters
Traditionally, PEF and other ablations are performed through the skin, which requires creating a path through the chest wall. With navigational or robotic bronchoscopy, our physicians can now reach tumors through the natural airway and deliver PEF energy directly to the tumor. This incision-free approach can reduce complications and recovery time while improving precision.
Our interventional pulmonology team specializes in advanced bronchoscopy techniques, including 3D navigational and robotic bronchoscopy. Working closely with medical oncology, radiation oncology, and thoracic surgery, we provide comprehensive care tailored to each patient’s needs.
Dr. George Chaux, Internventional Pulmonologist, explains how bronchoscopic PEF ablation for lung tumors benefits patients.
How PEF Ablation Works
The electrical pulses from PEF disrupt the tumor cell membranes (a process called electroporation), causing cancer cells to die. PEF can be delivered in two main ways:
Percutaneously: Through a small needle inserted through the skin, or Bronchoscopically: Through the airways, using an applicator advanced via a bronchoscope. Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA is the first to offer PEF via the bronchoscopic method—a medically referred approach.
PEF for Early-Stage Lung Cancer:
PEF is a safe and feasible approach in treating early-stage, non-small cell lung cancer and is actively being studied for patients with metastatic lung cancer, or those who have progressed after other treatments, to evaluate if it can help re-sensitize their tumors to immunotherapy. Early research suggests PEF may help stimulate the immune system by exposing the tumor’s antigens, potentially enhancing the body’s ability to fight the cancer at the treatment site and other tumor locations.
Who May Benefit?
Typical Candidates
Bronchoscopic PEF ablation may be considered for patients with small or moderate-sized lung cancers, or metastatic tumors in the lung, particularly when surgery is not an option or when tumors are located near sensitive structures. A multidisciplinary review helps determine if this treatment is appropriate for your individual case.
Benefits of PEF Ablation
Why Consider This Therapy?
- Minimally invasive, incision-free procedure
- Safer near blood vessels and airways compared to heat-based ablation
- Often performed as an outpatient procedure
- Minimal interruption of daily activities
- May enhance the body’s immune response to cancer
What to Expect During the Procedure
PEF ablation is typically an outpatient procedure performed under general anesthesia. Using advanced imaging and 3D navigation, the physician guides a thin catheter through the bronchoscope to the tumor. Electrical pulses are then delivered precisely to the tumor site. After a short recovery period, most patients are able to return home the same day.
PEF ablation is one of several tools we use to treat lung cancer. Depending on your diagnosis and overall health, it may be combined with other treatments such as systemic therapy, radiation, or surgery. Together, we will design a personalized treatment plan that offers the best chance for long-term control and quality of life.
If you have questions regarding Lung Cancer, Screening, or PEF AblationTreatment, please call today. Click here to request an appointment.
