Jupiter Medical Center is pioneering a revolutionary new technique that’s offering a beacon of hope for patients with lung tumors. Pulsed-field ablation (PFA), an innovative, non-thermal technology, precisely targets lesions without damaging surrounding tissue and organs, requires little down time, and provides a new option for patients no longer responding to even the most advanced treatments. It’s also ideal for those who aren’t good candidates for surgery.
“Despite our best efforts and the advances in chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and molecular therapy, we still see patients who don’t respond, or stop responding, to treatments,” says Dr. Kevin Green, medical director of respiratory therapy. “They get a diagnosis, they go through treatment, and the disease still progresses. That’s the worst thing.” It was this challenge that led Green and Dr. K. Adam Lee, medical director of JMC’s Thoracic Surgery and Lung Center of Excellence, to champion the groundbreaking treatment, which was purchased through Jupiter Medical Center Foundation.
Board-certified physicians Dr. Green and Dr. Michael Marsh, specializing in advanced bronchoscopy, have been using PFA to treat lung tumors since early spring. “We’re one of the first medical centers in Florida to receive this equipment and the first and only in Palm Beach County to utilize it,” Marsh says. “It truly is next level.”
PFA is a significant leap forward in ablative technology. Specifically designed for treating cardiac arrhythmias and certain types of cancer, Galvanize’s Aliya system uses pulsed electrical fields to selectively destroy tumors. Because it’s non-thermal—neither hot nor cold—the treatment doesn’t damage surrounding healthy lung tissue and significantly reduces risks, such as fatal bleeding associated with thermal ablation.
“The technology works by delivering high-voltage, short bursts of energy that disrupt cell membranes,” Green explains. “It’s safe and can be done without harm to the patient.” This ability to target and ablate tumors, even those near delicate structures like blood vessels or the heart, makes PFA a game-changer.”
The procedure is relatively quick, typically ranging from one to two hours. Because it’s performed bronchoscopically, hospitalization isn’t necessary. “Patients often recover quickly, with minimal to no discomfort,” Marsh notes.
While PFA is still in its infancy, the early data is highly promising, paving the way for its possible use as a primary treatment in the next few years. The JMC team is also excited about PFA’s potential to enhance the body’s immune response. “Non-thermal pulsed field ablation may help prime the body’s immune response to fight any remaining cancer cells,” Marsh explains, suggesting a synergistic effect with immunotherapies. Studies suggest that PFA may release antigens from dying tumor cells, potentially triggering an immune response against cancer cells.
For patients, PFA offers profound benefits. “It means, ‘Let’s stay in the fight’ and gives patients a bit more ammunition we can try,” says Green. “That a community hospital system like ours is able to offer a treatment option like PFA spares patients from traveling and incurring extravagant expenses to get the best treatment.” This localized access to highly specialized procedures ensures patients can receive world-class care close to home.
Green and Marsh see PFA as a testament to the rapid advancements in interventional pulmonology. “From my early exposure to endobronchial ultrasound in 2011 to the advancement of robotic bronchoscopy just five years ago, which revolutionized the ability to biopsy small lung nodules, the field is constantly evolving. This technology is the future,” Marsh says. “We are now targeting lung cancer from the inside out.”
He anticipates the advent of even more sophisticated PFA systems, leading to larger ablation zones and shorter procedural times. This continuous innovation, combined with earlier cancer detection, promises to shift the diagnostic stage, ultimately leading to better overall outcomes for patients. “It’s about providing advanced technology and expertise in a way that is personal, precise, and forward-looking,” says Marsh. JMC is “at the forefront and the next five years promise to be very exciting.”