From May 15 to 17, 2026, the First Annual Conference of the World Ablative Therapies Association (WATA 2026) was grandly held at the Grand New Qinghai Sheraton Hotel in Beijing. Recognizing the core challenges in tumor ablation, Professor Xiao Yueyong, President of the World Ablative Therapies Association, established a dedicated session for pancreatic cancer ablation. As one of the most challenging and forward-looking segments of the conference, the Pancreatic Ablation Parallel Session centered on the theme of "Precision and Multidisciplinary Integration of Pancreatic Tumor Ablation in the Context of Comprehensive Treatment." The session brought together domestic and international experts from various fields, including interventional radiology, pancreaticobiliary surgery, and radiology, engaging in intensive academic discourse focused on key technologies such as irreversible electroporation (IRE/Nanoknife), microwave ablation (MWA), MRI guidance, and sedation/analgesia. From indications management and intraoperative risk monitoring to combination strategies with systemic therapies, the session provided a comprehensive overview of clinical experience in the field of pancreatic cancer ablation.
Session I: Keynote Presentations & Technical Investigations
Professor Govindarajan Narayanan, Director of Interventional Oncology at the Miami Cancer Institute, USA, delivered the opening keynote address. He systematically introduced the current application status and level of evidence for percutaneous irreversible electroporation (IRE) in unresectable pancreatic cancer. Professor Narayanan pointed out that IRE offers unique anatomical advantages in locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) due to its non-thermal ablation mechanism, which spares major vascular and bile duct structures. Presenting classic case studies from the Miami Cancer Institute, he demonstrated long-term survival data for IRE combined with chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and proposed a comprehensive treatment framework, blazing a new trail for minimally invasive interventional therapy against the "king of cancers."
Dr. Govindarajan Narayanan: Clinical Value of Percutaneous Nanoknife (IRE) for Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer within a Comprehensive Treatment Framework
Professor He Chaobin from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center approached the topic from a surgical perspective, deeply exploring the treatment sequencing and synergistic effects of ablation therapy combined with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy in locally advanced pancreatic cancer. He emphasized that ablation alone is insufficient to address micrometastasis, whereas the localized antigen release following ablation may create a favorable tumor microenvironment for immunotherapy. Professor He shared his team's preliminary clinical findings on "ablation following induction chemotherapy" and "ablation combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs)," proposing a combination decision-making pathway guided by individualized tumor biological characteristics, which resonated widely among the attendees.
Professor He Chaobin: Exploring Combination Strategies of Ablation and Systemic Therapy for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer
Professor Xu Ming from the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University focused on a core execution-level technical issue—imaging navigation. His report systematically outlined the key evaluation points of pre-procedural CT, MRI, and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for pancreatic ablation, including the spatial relationships between the tumor and peripancreatic vessels, bile ducts, and the duodenum, as well as risk stratification for the ablation path. Regarding real-time intraoperative monitoring, the expert compared the advantages and disadvantages of ultrasound, cone-beam CT (CBCT), and temperature/electrical impedance feedback technologies, emphasizing that precise "boundary visualization" is the fundamental guarantee for both the safety and efficacy of pancreatic ablation.
Professor Xu Ming: Key Technologies in Pre-procedural Imaging Evaluation and Real-time Intraoperative Monitoring for Pancreatic Ablation
Although Professor Jiao Dechao from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University focused on soft tissue malignancies, his technical experience in MRI-guided microwave ablation offers highly relevant insights for pancreatic ablation. Professor Jiao presented clinical cases demonstrating real-time MR thermometry and dynamic monitoring of ablation zones, noting that MRI guidance offers distinct advantages in anatomically complex regions like the pancreas due to its high soft-tissue resolution and absence of ionizing radiation.
Professor Jiao Dechao: MRI-Guided Microwave Ablation for Soft Tissue Malignancies—Our Institutional Experience
The first session was co-chaired by Professor Liu Mingyang from the General Hospital of Heilongjiang Reclamation Bureau, Professor Li Chunhai from Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, and Professor Chen Yongliang from the First Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, who also led the in-depth discussions. The three experts skillfully managed the rhythm of the seminar around the challenging and trending topics of pancreatic and retroperitoneal tumor ablation, initiating timely questions and interactions to guide attendees through critical thinking on case selection, technical nuances, and risk management.
Professor Liu Mingyang and Professor Li Chunhai Co-chairing and Speaking
Session II: Translational Mechanisms & Boundary Management
Professor Li Jing from the Characteristic Medical Center of the Chinese People's Armed Police Forces presented an innovative study combining mechanistic exploration and clinical translation. He noted that conventional IRE ablation typically requires deep muscle relaxation (neuromuscular blockade) to prevent muscle contractions from interfering with the procedure, which some advanced pancreatic cancer patients cannot tolerate. Through animal experimentation and preliminary clinical validation, Professor Li's team demonstrated that a sedation and analgesia regimen without neuromuscular blockade, coupled with the adjustment of biphasic asymmetric high-frequency IRE parameters, can achieve equally stable and safe ablation outcomes. This finding is expected to lower the operational threshold and anesthetic risks of IRE, expanding its clinical utility in patients with poor performance status.
Professor Li Jing: Non-Neuromuscular Blockade Sedation and Analgesia Enables Pancreatic Biphasic Asymmetric High-Frequency IRE Ablation—Experimental Validation and Clinical Outcomes
Professor Wei Yingtian from the First Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital systematically summarized the indications, treatment margins, and risk management framework for Nanoknife ablation in pancreatic cancer. Starting from standard indications for unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer, she further explored individualized patient selection for those with oligometastasis, post-operative recurrence, advanced age, or renal insufficiency. Regarding intraoperative risk monitoring, Professor Wei detailed the predictive factors and real-time intervention strategies for complications such as arrhythmias, bile leakage, and portal vein thrombosis. She emphasized that a three-pronged approach consisting of "rigorous pre-procedural evaluation, synchronized intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring, and stepped post-procedural management" forms the cornerstone of safe Nanoknife implementation.
Professor Wei Yingtian: Selection of Indications and Intraoperative Risk Monitoring for Nanoknife in Pancreatic Cancer
Professor Wang Huiyang from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine shared a cross-disease study that offers profound clinical insights. He pointed out that recurrent or metastatic lymph nodes are frequently located in high-risk anatomical zones—such as the neck, retroperitoneum, and groin—where conventional surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy may damage adjacent vital nerves, blood vessels, or organs. Professor Wang's team utilized ultrasound-guided IRE, leveraging its non-thermal and tissue-selective ablation properties to precisely inactivate lymph nodes while effectively sparing surrounding normal structures, thereby achieving true "organ-sparing ablation."
Professor Wang Huiyang: Ultrasound-Guided IRE for Recurrent and Metastatic Lymph Nodes: Organ-Sparing Ablation in High-Risk Anatomical Sites
Professor Li Bin from Beijing Hospital used renal cell carcinoma ablation as an example to demonstrate how laser navigation systems empower percutaneous needle ablation with high precision. Although the diseases differ, the capabilities enabled by laser navigation—such as "virtual path planning, real-time angle correction, and sub-millimeter accuracy"—hold significant translational value for pancreatic ablation.
Professor Li Bin: Laser Navigation-Assisted Percutaneous Co-Ablation for T1a Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Analysis of Safety and Efficacy
Roundtable Discussion & Closing Remarks
Professor Fu Yan from the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Professor Mi Bing from Zibo Fourth People's Hospital, and Professor Liu Jibing from Shandong Cancer Hospital moderated and summarized this segment of academic activities. During the roundtable session, Professor Mi Bing, Professor Fu Yan, and Professor Liu Jibing engaged in a dialogue regarding "technical accessibility," "implementation requirements in primary-level hospitals," and "multicenter data sharing" for pancreatic ablation. They concluded that despite its high technical difficulty, pancreatic ablation can be safely rolled out across more regional medical centers through standardized training, the dissemination of image-guided techniques, and teleconsultation support, ultimately benefiting a broader population of patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer.
Professor Fu Yan, Professor Mi Bing, and Professor Liu Jibing Presiding and Summarizing
Through its diverse academic reports, rigorous clinical data, and open, collaborative multidisciplinary dialogues, the Pancreatic Ablation Parallel Session at WATA 2026 outlined the evolutionary trajectory of the pancreatic cancer ablation field from "technical feasibility" to "precision integration." Whether exploring the bioelectric field effects of the Nanoknife, the energetic dynamics between microwave and cryoablation, or the deep empowerment of image navigation and artificial intelligence, Chinese experts and their international peers jointly delivered a clear message: ablation therapy is steadily becoming an indispensable component of comprehensive care for locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Looking ahead, with the completion of more prospective clinical trials and the widespread adoption of intelligent equipment, this minimally invasive edge is poised to break the ice surrounding the "king of cancers," offering patients hope for extended survival and improved quality of life.
