Published online Jul 21, 2021. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i27.4322
Peer-review started: February 9, 2021
First decision: May 13, 2021
Revised: May 21, 2021
Accepted: June 23, 2021
Article in press: June 23, 2021
Published online: July 21, 2021
Pancreatic cancer is a challenging malignancy with limited treatment options and poor life expectancy. The only curative option is surgical resection, but only 15%-20% of patients are resectable at presentation because more than 50% of patients has distant metastasis at diagnosis and the rest of them has locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). The standard of care first line treatment for LAPC patients is chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy. Recent developments in minimally invasive ablative techniques may add to the treatment armamenta
Core Tip: During the last decade new therapeutic options arose with the advancement of minimally invasive technologies to treat pancreatic cancer patients. These new therapies have been a topic of increasing interest due to the severe prognostic implications of pancreatic cancer and the low comorbid risk of these procedures. This review summarizes new ablative options for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer and percutaneous liver-directed therapies for patients with liver-dominant metastatic disease.