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Focused ultrasound, histotripsy, heat and electric-field ablation can destroy tumours without an incision, but each maker runs its own small study. Publicly-funded trials would compare them fairly against surgery.
A public trials programme comparing non-invasive and minimally invasive ablation (histotripsy, high-intensity focused ultrasound, microwave and radiofrequency ablation, irreversible electroporation) with surgical resection in indications where ablation is plausible: small hepatocellular carcinoma and liver metastases, small renal masses, localised prostate cancer, early pancreatic tumours in inoperable patients, and thyroid nodules. Trials are device-agnostic within a class, use oncological and functional co-primary endpoints, and are run by the surgical and interventional trials network. Manufacturers contribute devices and training but do not control design or data. Regulatory clearance of these devices has largely rested on technical success, not comparative cancer outcomes.
Shares HistoSonics, Irreversible electroporation (NanoKnife), Focused ultrasound & histotripsy, Thermal ablation (RFA, microwave, cryo).
Shares Mandatory staged registries for new surgical techniques before wide adoption, Global cancer surgery: delivering safe, affordable, and timely cancer surgery, A permanently funded international network for randomised cancer surgery trials, Surgery and radiotherapy cure most, get least.
Shares HistoSonics, Focused ultrasound & histotripsy, Thermal ablation (RFA, microwave, cryo), Hepatocellular carcinoma.
Shares Global cancer surgery: delivering safe, affordable, and timely cancer surgery, A permanently funded international network for randomised cancer surgery trials, Surgery and radiotherapy cure most, get least, Prostate cancer.
Shares Irreversible electroporation (NanoKnife), Focused ultrasound & histotripsy, Thermal ablation (RFA, microwave, cryo), Thyroid cancer.
Shares Global cancer surgery: delivering safe, affordable, and timely cancer surgery, Surgery and radiotherapy cure most, get least, Thyroid cancer, Toxicity and quality of life are undervalued.
Shares Global cancer surgery: delivering safe, affordable, and timely cancer surgery, A permanently funded international network for randomised cancer surgery trials, Surgery and radiotherapy cure most, get least.
Shares Mandatory staged registries for new surgical techniques before wide adoption, Global cancer surgery: delivering safe, affordable, and timely cancer surgery, Surgery and radiotherapy cure most, get least.