West Cancer Center has received approval from an Institutional Review Board to begin enrolling patients in a clinical study testing a freezing-based technique to destroy breast cancer tumors, according to a report by PR Newswire.
The study, called the ChoICE study, will use technology developed by IceCure Medical. Cryoablation works by inserting a probe into a tumor and using extreme cold to destroy cancer cells. The procedure is minimally invasive and does not require the surgical removal of tissue in the traditional sense.
IRB approval is a required step before a clinical trial involving human subjects can begin. The board reviews proposed studies to ensure that the research meets ethical standards and that patient safety is adequately protected.
West Cancer Center, based in Tennessee, is one of the sites that has been authorized to commence the study. The ChoICE study is focused on patients with early-stage breast cancer, a group for whom less invasive treatment options have been a longstanding area of research interest.
Cryoablation has already been used in clinical settings for certain other cancers, including kidney and prostate tumors. Its application to breast cancer has been the subject of growing research interest, with proponents arguing that it could offer an effective option for patients who are not ideal candidates for conventional surgery or who prefer to avoid it.
PR Newswire reported that the study aims to gather data on the safety and effectiveness of IceCure's specific cryoablation system in breast cancer patients. Results from studies like this one typically feed into larger regulatory review processes that can eventually lead to broader clinical adoption.
Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the United States. Advances in treatment, including less invasive approaches, have been a consistent priority for cancer researchers and oncologists.
