DIRECT/InspIRE Australia: This study is evaluating the effectiveness of a procedure called irreversible electroporation, which uses electrical pulses to destroy cancer cells, in people with stage III pancreatic cancer who have received 3 months of chemotherapyInvestigation of the safety and efficacy of irreversible electroporation (IRE) using the NanoKnife® System in patients with unresectable stage 3 pancreatic cancer who have received 3 months of chemotherapy

Exclusion

1 Patients who at 3 months after induction chemotherapy have evidence of disease progression.
2 Patients who have undergone prior radiation therapy or surgical resection for treatment of pancreatic cancer.
3 Patients who have received IRE for margin accentuation.
4 Patients who are unable to tolerate general anaesthetic with full skeletal muscle blockade.
5 History of another primary cancer within the last 3 years, with the exception of non-melanomatous skin cancer and carcinoma in-situ.
6 Patients who are actively bleeding, anticoagulated, coagulopathy, or have any of the following haematology results:
a. Haemoglobin <100 g/L without the support of growth factors or transfusion
b. Absolute neutrophil count <1.5 x 109/L
c. Platelet count <100 x 109/L
7 Patients with the presence of implanted cardiac pacemakers, defibrillators, electronic devices or implanted devices with metal parts in the thoracic cavity at the time of IRE.
8 Patients with history of epilepsy or other neurological disease.
9 Patients with inadequate organ function:
a. Patients with Stage 3 (GFR 30 to 44ml/min), 4 (15 to 29ml/min), or 5 (<15ml/min) chronic kidney disease.
b. Aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase >2.5 x upper limit of normal.
c. Clinically significant cardiovascular disease i.e. active or <12 months since e.g. cerebrovascular accident, myocardial infraction, unstable angina, New York Heart Association grade II or greater congestive heart failure, serious cardiac arrhythmias requiring medications, uncontrolled hypertension.
10 Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must undergo pregnancy testing.