Clinical study of high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy in combination with gemcitabine for unresectable pancreatic carcinoma

Objective To study the effect and security of the combination therapy of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) with gemcitabine for unresectable pancreatic carcinoma.Methods 48 patients with correct diagnosis of advanced unresectable pancreatic carcinoma were divided into two groups, as the HIFU and gemcitabine combination therapy group and the gemcitabine chemotherapy group.The average survival time, 6-month and 12-month survival rates, clinical benefit rates, disease control rates and side effects were evaluated after treatment.Results Compared with the chemotherapy group, the combination therapy group presented higher CBR (83.3% vs 30.0%, P<0.05) as well as better 6 and 12 month survival (73.8% vs 52.3%, P<0.05;35.2% vs 17.3%, P<0.05) and longer MST (10.04 ms vs 6.4ms) .And there were no differences between the two groups in DCR (82.1% vs 60.0%, P>0.05) and adverse effect.Conclusion HIFU is supposed to be an effective and safe therapy for unresectable pancreatic carcinoma.The combination therapy of HIFU and GEM can increase the CBR and DCR, and prolong the survival time without increasing side effects.