NanoKnife

What is NanoKnife treatment?

The NanoKnife, also called irreversible electroporation therapy, is a minimally invasive treatment for prostate cancer. It involves using quick electrical pulses to target hard-to-reach tumours of the prostate. It can also be used for pancreatic and liver cancer treatments, when the tumours are in similarly complicated locations.

 

 

The NanoKnife treatment is ideal for those who have tumours that are unreachable or inoperable, and that are unsuitable for alternative treatments like high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).

 

How does the NanoKnife work?

The procedure takes around 45 minutes and is performed under general anaesthetic. During a NanoKnife treatment, the urologist electrodes or placed needles to and around the prostate tumours, as guided by CT, MRI or ultrasound scans. Then, high-voltage electrical pulses are administered through the electrodes or needles to kill cancerous cells, effectively “cutting” the cell membrane open. This induces cell death, called apoptosis.

 

Is NanoKnife treatment safe?

The electric pulses are short and do not emit heat, so there should be no discomfort for the patient. The procedure is precise and the pulses are directly administered to the target area. This means that the risks of damage to nearby organs and tissues are low, and the healthy cells are preserved and are left to grow, replacing the dead cancerous cells and maintaining the function of the prostate or treated organs.

As it is a short procedure with a short recovery time, patients should not need to stay overnight in the hospital. The treatment can be repeated multiple times if needed. NanoKnife treatment may be employed alongside chemo- or radiotherapy for cancer to double the effort against tumours metastasising.

 

What are the side effects of NanoKnife treatment?

This is still a relatively new technology, so there is no data yet reviewing the long-term effects and outcomes.

If the procedure was conducted on the prostate, it may swell for a few days and make it difficult to urinate, so a catheter will be fitted for the patient. Some patients may become infertile or have reduced production of ejaculatory fluids.

There could be the occurrence of blood clots near or around the organ or gland that received treatment. There may be damage to other organs, internal bleeding, and cardiac arrhythmia. However, the chances of these side effects and complications are very low.