Physicians at Mayo Clinic’s Florida campus are among the first in the nation to use a technique known as MRI-guided laser ablation to heat up and destroy kidney and liver tumors. So far, five patients have been successfully treated — meaning no visible tumors remained after the procedure.
They join their colleagues at Mayo Clinic’s site in Rochester, Minn., who were the first to use laser ablation on patients with recurrent prostate tumors.
Although the treatment techniques are in the development stage, the physicians say the treatment is potentially beneficial against most tumors in the body — either primary or metastatic — as long as there are only a few in an organ and they are each less than 5 centimeters in size (about 2 inches in diameter). Patients also cannot have a pacemaker or certain metallic implants, since the procedure is done inside an MRI machine.
“Laser ablation offers us a way to precisely target and kill tumors without harming the rest of an organ. We believe there are a lot of potential uses of this technique — which is quite exciting,” says Eric Walser, M.D., an interventional radiologist who has pioneered the technique at Mayo Clinic, Florida.
In the United States, laser ablation is primarily used to treat brain, spine and prostate tumors, but is cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for any soft tissue tumor. Only a few centers have adapted the technique to tumors outside of the brain.
Dr. Walser has been using laser ablation since June. He learned the technique in Italy, where its use is more common, and he adapted it for patients at Mayo Clinic, Florida, many of whom are on a liver transplant waiting list. The clinic is a large liver transplant center, and a number of patients with cirrhosis have small tumors in their liver. “We treated the tumors to keep them at bay because we could not use chemotherapy in these patients, who are quite ill and are waiting for a new liver,” he says. He also adapted it for use in treating kidney tumors.
The outpatient procedure is performed inside an MRI machine, which can precisely monitor temperature inside tumors. A special nonmetal needle is inserted directly into a tumor, and the laser is turned on to deliver light energy. Physicians can watch the temperature gradient as it rises, and they can see exactly in the organ where the heat is. When the tumor and a bit of tissue that surrounds it (which may harbor cancer cells) is heated to the point of destruction — which can be clearly seen on monitors — the laser is turned off. In larger tumors, several needles are inserted simultaneously.
Patients are given anesthesia because, during the 2.5-minute procedure they should not move, Dr. Walser says. Post-treatment side effects include some local pain and flulike symptoms as the body reacts to, and absorbs, the destroyed tissue, he says. These side effects usually subside in three days to one week.
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Below is a link to an edited youtube video with Dr. Walser that you can embed with your stories.
Is the MRI Laser treatment done at any other clinic near Raleigh, NC or Blacksburg, Va.
Thank you for your inquiry, Elizabeth. I do not know if this procedure is done at other health care facilities. It is best to check directly with hospitals in those areas.
However, if you are interested in learning more about the procedure at Mayo Clinic in Florida and whether or not you or someone else is a candidate, please contact me directly via email at punsky.kevin@mayo.edu.
Thank you,
Kevin
Do you know if any facility in Canada is currently evaluating this procedure?
Thank you, David
Your question has been forwarded for an answer.
David,
Thank you for your inquiry. Unfortunately, I do not know if any other hospitals offer this procedure or are evaluating it. It is best to check with them directly. Please contact me at punsky.kevin@mayo.edu if you would like to learn more about the procedure at Mayo Clinic in Florida and whether or not you or someone else is a candidate.
Kevin
Hello,
My wife has primary liver cancer and has gone through two different types of Chemotherapy.
Originally it was thought the tumor could be removed but during the procedure it was discovered it could not due to the location.
Reading this article it appears to be very impressive. We live in Ohio and it’s approximately the same distance to Jacksonville or Rochester.
What type of information is required to find out is my wife is a candidate?
Thank You
Mr. Miller, you should hear from someone soon in regard to your question.
John,
Thank you for contacting Mayo Clinic. If your wife’s cancer has resulted in more than 5 tumors larger than 5 cm (size of orange) or if the cancer is widely spread throughout the body or cancer in the blood, laser therapy cannot help. If you would like her to see a different Mayo physician who can possibly treat this condition, please call 904-953-2000 and ask for the Central Appointment Office in Jacksonville.
If laser ablation sounds like an option, please email the most recent medical evaluation, details of her case and any lab values and and xray reports that you have. Dr. Eric Walser and his colleagues will review and then destroy these documents at no charge to you. This information should be emailed to Dr. Walser’s medical secretary Gisela Janica (janica.gisela@mayo.edu).
If the doctors agree that laser or tumor ablation might help, then they will request that you send them your wife’s actual radiology studies (like MRI, CT etc) to Mayo Clinic. We will help arrange a visit to the clinic if all of the information indicates that she is a good candidate for one of Dr. Walser’s procedures.
I wish you and your wife all the best.
Regards,
Kevin Punsky
External Communications
Mayo Clinic in Florida
Mr. Walser I was watching the doctors show today, and I heard you all talking about laser treatmenton liver cancer. I found out on March 30th that I had tumors on my liver,but I could not except the news, so I ask for a second oppion. I really would apperciate if you email me back and let me know if you could help me, I know this is from the Lord! thank you, Mrs. Joyce Simpson
Thank you for your message. It has been forwarded on for reply.
Ms. Simpson:
Thank you for contacting Mayo Clinic. Dr. Walser has given me some information to share with you. If your cancer has resulted in more than 5 tumors larger than 5 cm (size of orange) or if the cancer is widely spread throughout the body or cancer in the blood, laser therapy cannot help. If you would like to see a different Mayo physician who can possibly treat this condition, please call 904-953-2000 and ask for the Central Appointment Office.
If laser ablation sounds like an option, please email the most recent medical evaluation, details of your case and any lab values and and xray reports that you have. Dr. Walser and his colleagues will review and then destroy these documents at no charge to you. This information should be emailed to Dr. Walser’s medical secretary Gisela Janica (janica.gisela@mayo.edu).
If the doctors agree that laser or tumor ablation might help you, then they will request that you send them your actual radiology studies (like MRI, CT etc) to the Mayo Clinic. We will help arrange a visit to the clinic if all of the information indicates that you are a good candidate for one of Dr. Walser’s procedures. Please understand that we may tell you not to visit Mayo clinic if we cannot offer any improvement over the treatment you are receiving locally.
I wish you all the best.
Regards,
Kevin
–
Kevin Punsky
External Communications Manager
Division of Public Affairs
Mayo Clinic
I also saw a small part of the discussion on The Doctors today. Very impressive new treatment. It gives us cancer patients hope that there are new treatments all the time! I am a multiple recurrent soft cell sarcoma patient (53 yo Male). My first tumor (2005 was “football” size, obviously too large for this treatment). My recurrences,2007, 2009 (2) and 2011 have all been for smaller tumors. All tumors have been inside my chest cavity 3 of the recurrences required (or will require cardiothoratic surgery, I have a surgery scheduled for April 21st, ugh!). One recurrence (early 2009) was 2 small tumors just under the clavical near the lower throat which were able to be surgically resected wo a “chest crack”. Only 1 tumor involved any organ (late 2009, tumor attached to the heart. Damage to heart occurred during surgery and it was repaired during the same surgery, this was the only time I had to be on the heart lung machine). Other tumors were encapsulated and came out whole. I was given radiation treatment (UCSF) after the 2005 surgery and the 2007 surgery (which was 3 small tumors in the left-mid chest area), I was told it would probably do more damage than good after the 2009 surgeries and I didn’t push. My most recent tumor is between my heart and lung and very close to a major pulmonary artery. Hopefully that’s enough information to answer if in my case MRI Laser treatment might be a viable approach should I recur yet again. Avg span between recurrences has been 18 months. My late 2009 surgery has left me in chronic pain (nerve damage) which I am in the process (or have been) of treating (PT, various medications). Also, I am on a pacemaker (due to the heart damage during the late 2009 surgery) which I know is an automatic disqualification due to MRI being used. My pacemaker placement was more precautionary than anything and I believe that consideration could be made for removal of the pacer to treat the cancer and re-placement if it was again deemed medically necessary. Frankly I think/feel the risk of a non surgical treatment for the cancer that might finally kill it once and for all vs. any possibly needed pacemaker would be a risk I’d be willing to sign up for.
Is soft cell sarcoma described above something that may fit this bill for this kind of treatment?
Thanks for looking at this. I probably won’t catch the answer before my upcoming surgery as tomorrow is pre-op day.
Regards,
Darrel Foster
Darrell,
Thank you for your comment. It is best to contact Dr. Walser’s secretary so that she can assist you with your health questions. She can be reached via email at janica.gisela@mayo.edu.
I wish you all the best.
Kevin Punsky
Public Affairs
Mayo Clinic
Do they treat a recurrent throat cancer this way? The tumor has shrunk dramatically with chemo, but they are going to start radiation in a couple weeks which the doctors say is extremely dangerous, but he will die if doesn’t try.
Mary,
Thank you for your comment. It is best to contact Dr. Walser’s secretary so that she can assist you with your health questions. She can be reached via email at janica.gisela@mayo.edu.
I wish you all the best.
Kevin Punsky
Public Affairs
Mayo Clinic
Hi
My husband was diagnostic with a rectal cancer 2 years ago and he has all the protocol. This year the cancer came back in the stage 4 and his doctor made everything that he could and know he told was that my husband has about 6 months or year to live. I just want to know if my husband could have this laser treatment. The last time he has the Petscan it show that the tumor is in ativit. Thank’s.
Sandra,
Thank you for your comment. It is best to contact Dr. Walser’s secretary so that she can assist you with your health questions. She can be reached via email at janica.gisela@mayo.edu.
I wish you all the best.
Kevin Punsky
Public Affairs
Mayo Clinic
Hi Kevin,
I´m from Chile and want to know how to access to this procedure, we can fly to Florida, my father have liver tumors and I hope this method could help him.
I´ll appreciate your answer.
Hi Cristian,
Thank you for contacting Mayo Clinic. Dr. Walser has given me some information to share with you. If your father’s cancer has resulted in more than 5 tumors larger than 5 cm (size of orange) or if the cancer is widely spread throughout the body or cancer in the blood, laser therapy cannot help. If he would like to see a different Mayo physician who can possibly treat this condition, please call 904-953-2000 and ask for the Central Appointment Office.
If laser ablation sounds like an option, please email the most recent medical evaluation, details of your father’s case and any lab values and and xray reports that you have. Dr. Walser and his colleagues will review and then destroy these documents at no charge to you. This information should be emailed to Dr. Walser’s medical secretary Gisela Janica (janica.gisela@mayo.edu). I do not know of any physicians outside of Mayo Clinic that perform this procedure. Gisela can answer your other questions about insurance and the length of time for surgery.
If the doctors agree that laser or tumor ablation might help your father, then they will request that you send them his actual radiology studies (like MRI, CT etc) to the Mayo Clinic. We will help arrange a visit to the clinic if all of the information indicates that he is a good candidate for one of Dr. Walser’s procedures. Please understand that we may tell him not to visit Mayo clinic if we cannot offer any improvement over the treatment you are receiving locally.
I wish you all the best.
Regards,
Kevin Punsky
Mayo Clinic
Public Affairs
Hello Kevin
The MRI guided procedure sounds like an ideal solution to my challenge. After working 38 years in the telecommunication industry, I retired. Since I am all grown- up, I decided to obtain a second degree but this degree would be within the medical field. I am now the oldest radiologist technologist student in my class and I am having the greatest time with my patients, RT’s, and Radiologists as I learn my new craft.
After a routine chest X-ray, I was told I have a mass on my right lung. The lung biopsy revealed a benign tumor that needs to be removed.
My questions concerns the removal of a benign tumor located on the top portion of my right lung. Does the MRI procedure have a short recuperating time for lung tumors? My school has informed me if I take a medical leave for more than 3 weeks, I may be dropped from the RT program. This is why I am excited about your procedure. I am hoping your procedure is the answer to my prayers.
Either way, the MRI guided procedure sounds promising, so please keep up the great work.
Julia
Julia,
Thank you for your comment. It is best to contact Dr. Walser’s secretary so that she can assist you with your health questions. She can be reached via email at janica.gisela@mayo.edu.
I wish you all the best.
Kevin Punsky
Public Affairs
Mayo Clinic
Hi,
Just over a year ago, I was diagnosed with Stage IV Vaginal Cancer. I went through six weekly treatments of Chemo – Cisplatin and 30 (5 days per week) treatments of aggressive Radiation. My tumour shrunk by half and the lymph nodes shrunk as well. But, about six months later the tumour has grown and the cancer has spread to more lymph nodes. I am now undergoing Chemo again with Cisplatin and Paclitaxel every three weeks for a total of six. After my third round I was given an MRI and the results show that the Chemo is working on some lymph nodes but not the tumour.
I live in Ottawa, Ontario which is in Canada and saw the show on The Doctors with Dr. Walser and the new procedure of destroying tumours with an MRI Machine and Laser. I would like to know if I qualify and if this is done in Canada.
Could you please advise. Thanks,
Debbie
Thank you for your message.
Unfortunately, we cannot diagnose conditions, provide second opinions or make specific treatment recommendations through this correspondence. However, I have attached a couple of links to pages on our website that you may find helpful: (insert links) If you would like to seek help from Mayo Clinic, please call one of our appointment offices in Arizona at 480-301-1735; Florida, 904-953-0323; or Minnesota, 507-284-2511.
Could you tell me if this treatment would work on head and neck malingnant melanoma? My son was operated on late November 2011 then went
through large doses of Interferon for one month followed by Radiation treatments for another month and is presently on a low dose Interferon for another 11 months. If this Cancer returns would he be a candidate for this new treatment.
We have received your question and have referred it for answering.
Sally, Please send your question about the MRI laser ablation procedure to Amber Fryer at fryer.amber@mayo.edu.
Thank you,
Kevin Punsky
Mayo Clinic
Public Affairs
What are the options for a tumor that is larger the 5 cm limit?
jim
Thank you for your comment. We have referred your question for reply.
Any success with Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma? I have had a liver resection and now have reoccurance in my lungs and liver. The tumors are all smaller than 3 cm at last CT…2 in my liver and some in both lungs. This sounds too good to be true and I am very interested in pursuing this option….would love to be a first of my kind to try!!!
Melinda Bachini
Melinda, please contact: Amber Fryer, Patient Service Specialist, and she will tell you what you need to do.
Phone: 904-953-6259