New Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Shows Promise for Patients

Nearly 68,000 people in the United States are expected to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year, and incidence rates are rising. While the five-year survival rate has improved to about 13 percent, pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers, often diagnosed at advanced stages with limited treatment options. 

Physicians at the WVU Cancer Institute and WVU Medicine recently became the first in the country to perform an endoscopic ultrasound-guided microwave ablation (EUS-MWA) procedure to treat a pancreatic tumor, offering a new, minimally invasive option for patients who otherwise may not be candidates for surgery.

The procedure was performed by Shailendra Singh, M.D., a gastroenterologist and advanced endoscopist at gastroenterologist and endoscopist at the WVU Medicine Advanced Center for Therapeutic Endoscopy at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital, using endoscopic ultrasound technology to precisely locate the tumor and deliver microwave energy to destroy cancer cells without any surgical incisions.

“This is a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure that allows us to access the pancreas with high-resolution imaging and treat the tumor very precisely,” Dr. Singh said. “We can see the tumor in real time and apply targeted thermal energy to destroy it.”

Pancreatic cancer is especially difficult to treat due to its location deep within the abdomen and its resistance to chemotherapy and immune response. Only about 10 to 15 percent of patients are eligible for surgery, which carries significant risk and is often not an option due to advanced disease, age, or other medical conditions.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided microwave ablation provides localized tumor control that can complement standard treatments such as chemotherapy or surgery. The outpatient procedure typically involves same-day discharge and a short recovery period, reducing the risks associated with more invasive approaches.

Researchers at the WVU Cancer Institute are also studying whether ablative therapies can alter the tumor environment, potentially improving the effectiveness of chemotherapy and immune-based treatments by disrupting the tumor’s natural resistance mechanisms.

“Our goal is to prolong survival and improve quality of life,” Singh said. “This represents a new paradigm in pancreatic cancer treatment.”

The first patient treated at WVU Medicine using microwave ablation for a pancreatic lesion was discharged the same day and has shown encouraging early results on follow-up imaging. Physicians will continue to closely monitor outcomes as part of ongoing research and clinical evaluation.

Patients considered for EUS-MWA are carefully evaluated by WVU Medicine’s multidisciplinary pancreatic care team, which includes surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, and advanced endoscopists. Each case is reviewed to determine whether the procedure is safe and appropriate based on tumor characteristics and overall health.

In the latest episode of the Live Healthy West Virginia podcast, Singh discussed pancreatic cancer, current treatment limitations, and how endoscopic ultrasound-guided microwave ablation is expanding options for patients. The podcast is available on WVU Medicine’s YouTube channel and Spotify.

To learn more about WVU Medicine, visit WVUMedicine.org.