Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 18 and up Women only

Safety and feasibility of irreversible electroporation (IRE) for early-stage breast cancer

Official title: Safety and Feasibility of Irreversible Electroporation for Early-stage Breast Cancer: a Prospective, Open-Label, Single-Arm, Exploratory Study

Run by First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University · NCT07263451 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This trial will test whether irreversible electroporation (IRE) can be safely used before surgery to treat women with small (≤2.0 cm), treatment-naïve invasive ductal breast cancer visible on ultrasound and MRI.

More Breast Cancer trials

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexWomen only
Enrollment24 (estimated)
SponsorFirst Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University
Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Hangzhou, Zhejiang and 1 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedDecember 11, 2025
Main results expectedMarch 15, 2026
Study endsMay 15, 2026
Registry record updatedDecember 22, 2025
Trial IDNCT07263451 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Women aged 18 or older with treatment-naïve, unifocal invasive ductal carcinoma ≤2.0 cm that is clearly seen on both ultrasound and MRI and who are medically fit for surgery and general anesthesia (ECOG 0-1).

Probably not a fit

Patients with implanted cardiac electronic devices, significant coagulopathy, multifocal or larger tumors (>2.0 cm), prior local breast cancer treatment, or tumors not well visualized on ultrasound/MRI are unlikely to benefit from this approach.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This is a prospective, open-label, single-arm exploratory trial in which eligible patients receive image-guided IRE ablation followed by standard surgical resection. The trial enrolls adult women with unifocal invasive ductal carcinoma ≤2.0 cm that is well visualized on breast ultrasound and DCE-MRI and who are fit for general anesthesia (ECOG 0-1). Outcomes related to safety, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy will be recorded and analyzed according to predefined primary and secondary endpoints. Patients with significant coagulopathy or implanted active cardiac electronic devices are excluded.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, IRE could offer a less destructive, image-guided local treatment that preserves surrounding tissue and may reduce surgical morbidity for small breast tumors.

How similar studies have gone: IRE has produced promising results in small series for other solid organs and there are limited pilot reports in breast tissue, but broad clinical evidence for IRE in breast cancer remains limited.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Female, aged 18 years or older.
2. Medically fit for both surgery and general anesthesia, with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-1.
3. Treatment-naïve, primary, unifocal breast cancer with a maximum diameter of ≤ 2.0 cm as assessed by MRI.
4. Pathologically confirmed diagnosis of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) within 3 months prior to enrollment.
5. Tumor that presents as a well-defined, localized mass and is clearly visualized on both breast ultrasound (for intraoperative guidance) and breast DCE-MRI (for baseline measurement and treatment planning).
6. The subject must be able to understand the purpose of the trial, voluntarily participate, and provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Known coagulopathy or bleeding diathesis (defined as a platelet count \< 50×10⁹/L or an International Normalized Ratio (INR) \> 1.5).
2. Presence of an implanted cardiac pacemaker, defibrillator, or any other active electronic medical device.
3. History of significant cardiac disease, including but not limited to: uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmias or congestive heart failure classified as New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III or IV.
4. Patients who are pregnant, lactating, or planning a pregnancy during the study period.
5. Known severe allergy or anaphylactic reaction to MRI contrast agents.
6. Known high-risk genetic susceptibility to breast cancer (e.g., BRCA1/2 mutation carrier) associated with an increased risk of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence following ablation.
7. Presence of distant metastases.
8. Any other medical or psychiatric condition that, in the investigator's judgment, would compromise the patient's safety or compliance with the study protocol.

Where it's running

  • The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
    Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
    Recruiting
  • The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
    Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
    Not yet recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

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How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.