A Clinical Study That Evaluates the Effects of Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) Ablation Technology on the Treatment of Patients with Stage III Pancreatic Cancer
In 2024, an estimated 66,440 new cases of pancreatic cancer will be diagnosed in the United States alone.1 It is our hope that the DIRECT Study will provide a new potential treatment option for these patients during their battle with cancer.
Dealing with pancreatic cancer can be overwhelming, but support can be found all around you. Talk with your family, reach out to support organizations such as PanCAN and ACS, and lean on your healthcare team to guide you through all of your options.
DIRECT is a clinical study for patients who have been diagnosed with Stage III pancreatic cancer. This study will evaluate the effects of Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) ablation technology in this patient population and aims to provide data on the safety and effectiveness of IRE for patients, clinicians, payors and regulators.
DIRECT is led by Co-Principal Investigators – Govindarajan Narayanan, MD, Chief of Interventional Oncology at Miami Cancer Institute and Robert C.G. Martin, MD, PhD, Surgical Oncology at the University of Louisville. Together, with their extensive medical experience and passion for clinical research, we hope to drive DIRECT forward.
DIRECT, led by Co-Principal Investigators – Govindarajan Narayanan, MD, Chief of Interventional Oncology at Miami Cancer Institute and Robert C.G. Martin, MD, PhD, Surgical Oncology at the University of Louisville, is looking to better patient care by uncovering potentially new treatment options for those suffering with locally advanced pancreatic cancer.
DIRECT is a clinical study that will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of using Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) technology to ablate malignant pancreatic tumors in patients with Stage III pancreatic cancer.
Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) is a technique using a non-thermal energy to create permanent nanopores in the cell membrane to disrupt cellular homeostasis. The disruption of cellular homeostasis initiates an apoptotic-like effect which leads to permanent cell death. After delivering a sufficient number of high voltage pulses, the cells within the electrical field will be irreversibly damaged.2
The IRE technology is used in the DIRECT study. The procedure is an ablation procedure that involves the delivery of a series of high voltage direct current electrical pulses between electrodes placed within a target area of tissue.
AngioDynamics offers training through our Medical Affairs and Clinical Specialist teams. If you would like to get more information on our trainings or workshops, please reach out to medicalaffairs@angiodynamics.com.
1. American Cancer Society. 2024. Key Statistics for Pancreatic Cancer. Available at: cancer.org/cancer/types/pancreatic-cancer/about/key-statistics.html. Accessed April 2024.
2. Lee EW, Thai S, Kee ST. Irreversible electroporation: a novel image-guided cancer therapy. Gut Liver. (2010);4(SUPPL. 1):99–104. doi: 10.5009/gnl.2010.4.S1.S99.