Cryoablation Promising as Surgery-Sparing Option for Early Breast Cancer: Study
Italy: Ultrasound-guided cryoablation is emerging as a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment for selected patients with early-stage breast cancer, with added benefits in quality of life, a recent study published in Clinical Breast Cancer has revealed. The findings suggest that this approach may serve as a practical alternative to surgery, particularly for elderly patients or those with significant comorbidities.
The study, led by Jacopo Nori Cucchiari from the Breast Diagnostic Unit at Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy, evaluated the safety, efficacy, and patient-reported outcomes of cryoablation across multiple low-risk breast cancer subtypes. As interest in less invasive cancer treatments grows, cryoablation has gained attention for its ability to destroy tumors with extreme cold while preserving surrounding tissue and minimizing recovery time.
Earlier studies primarily focused on small, hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative tumors measuring less than 15 mm. However, evidence for slightly larger tumors and other low-grade subtypes remained limited. To address this gap, the investigators conducted a single-center prospective study assessing outcomes 12 months after treatment.
The study enrolled 36 women with a mean age of 84.5 years who underwent cryoablation between 2021 and 2023. A total of 39 biopsy-confirmed early-stage breast tumors were treated, including luminal A, luminal B, invasive ductal carcinoma, and invasive ductal carcinoma with associated ductal carcinoma in situ. Tumor staging and follow-up were performed using ultrasound and contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM), with confirmatory biopsy at 12 months.
The researchers reported the following findings:
- At one year, complete ablation was achieved in all tumors measuring 15 mm or less and in 84.6% of tumors larger than 15 mm.
- No unexpected device- or procedure-related adverse events were reported, supporting the safety of cryoablation.
- Complete ablation rates were higher in luminal A tumors compared with luminal B tumors, though the difference was not statistically significant.
- Tumors with lower proliferative activity (Ki67 ≤20%) had higher complete ablation rates than those with Ki67 >20%, but the difference did not reach statistical significance.
- Pain scores decreased significantly at six months after cryoablation and remained low at 12 months.
- Quality-of-life assessments showed improvements in anxiety and depression.
- Patients also reported better physical functioning and fewer limitations related to physical and emotional health.
The authors noted that cryoablation allows rapid recovery without major complications, making it particularly suitable for elderly patients and those considered unfit for surgery. They also highlighted the utility of CEM in evaluating treatment efficacy, with imaging findings closely matching histological results.
While the findings support cryoablation as a promising option for low-risk early breast cancer, the researchers emphasized the need for larger randomized trials and longer follow-up. Nonetheless, the study adds to growing evidence that cryoablation can deliver effective local control while preserving quality of life, supporting its role as a valuable alternative to conventional surgery in carefully selected patients.
Reference:
Cucchiari, J. N., Naro, F. D., Migliaro, G., Giorgi, S. E. B., Pugliese, F., Amadori, T., Bicchierai, G., De Benedetto, D., Bellini, C., Vidali, S., Vanzi, E., Boeri, C., Lamagna, V., Miele, V., & Susini, T. (2025). Cryoablation for Treatment of Early-Stage Breast Cancer: Efficacy and Quality of Life Assessment. Clinical Breast Cancer. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clbc.2025.12.004
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