Ep. 46 Pulse Electrical Field Ablation: Lung Cancer Applications & Benefits with Dr. William Moore and Dr. Daniel Sterman

Pulsed electric field (PEF) therapy is an emerging cancer treatment that utilizes short electrical pulses to disrupt tumor cell membranes, leading to cell death—all without the risk of thermal damage seen in traditional ablation. How does this novel approach compare to gold-standard treatments like stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in primary and metastatic lung cancer? Find out in this episode of the BackTable Podcast featuring NYU radiation oncologist Dr. Benjamin Cooper, radiology professor Dr. William Moore, and cardiothoracic surgery professor Dr. Daniel Sterman. --- SYNPOSIS The doctors break down the unique mechanism of PEF and its potential immunological benefits over other ablation techniques like cryoablation and microwave ablation. They also discuss PEF’s evolving role in both primary and metastatic cancer, its integration with therapies like SBRT, procedural efficiency and safety considerations, and why multidisciplinary collaboration and clinical trials are critical to defining its future in lung cancer care. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction01:38 - Understanding Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) Ablation05:36 - Comparing Ablation Techniques: Cryoablation vs Microwave Ablation vs PEF Ablation10:08 - Potential Immunological Responses, Safety, and Efficacy of PEF23:40 - The Imprint Lung Trial: Exploring Immune System Stimulation in Cancer Treatment29:18 - Patient Case Studies and Treatment Outcomes32:41 - Challenges in Post-Treatment Imaging36:41 - Procedure Times and Techniques for Ablation41:51 - Comparing Pneumothorax Rates in Different Ablative Technologies43:56 - Future Directions and Collaborative Efforts in Cancer Treatment --- RESOURCES PEF in Stage IV Lung Cancerhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40409026/ IMPRINT-Lung Trialhttps://www.cancer.gov/research/participate/clinical-trials-search/v?id=NCI-2018-01588 Phase 1b Study of Dazostinag plus Pembrolizumab after Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in Patients with Select Advanced Solid Tumorshttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12754119/ FLASH Radiotherapyhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9591027/