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BackTable / Tumor Board / Podcast / Episode #46

Pulse Electrical Field Ablation: Lung Cancer Applications & Benefits

with Dr. William Moore and Dr. Daniel Sterman

Pulsed electric field (PEF) therapy is an emerging cancer treatment that utilizes short electrical pulses to disrupt tumor cell membranes, leading to cell death—all without the risk of thermal damage seen in traditional ablation. How does this novel approach compare to gold-standard treatments like stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in primary and metastatic lung cancer? Find out in this episode of the BackTable Podcast featuring NYU radiation oncologist Dr. Benjamin Cooper, radiology professor Dr. William Moore, and cardiothoracic surgery professor Dr. Daniel Sterman.

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Pulse Electrical Field Ablation: Lung Cancer Applications & Benefits with Dr. William Moore and Dr. Daniel Sterman on the BackTable Tumor Board Podcast
Ep 46 Pulse Electrical Field Ablation: Lung Cancer Applications & Benefits with Dr. William Moore and Dr. Daniel Sterman
00:00 / 01:04

BackTable, LLC (Producer). (2026, February 3). Ep. 46 – Pulse Electrical Field Ablation: Lung Cancer Applications & Benefits [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://www.backtable.com

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Podcast Contributors

Dr. Ben Cooper on the BackTable Tumor Board Podcast

Dr. Ben Cooper is a radiation oncologist practicing at NYU Langone in New York City, New York.

Dr. William Moore on the BackTable Tumor Board Podcast

Dr. William Moore is a radiologist and Professor at NYU Langone in New York City, New York.

Dr. Daniel Sterman on the BackTable Tumor Board Podcast

Dr. Daniel Sterman is an interventional pulmonologist at NYU Langone in New York City, New York.

Synopsis

The doctors break down the unique mechanism of PEF and its potential immunological benefits over other ablation techniques like cryoablation and microwave ablation. They also discuss PEF’s evolving role in both primary and metastatic cancer, its integration with therapies like SBRT, procedural efficiency and safety considerations, and why multidisciplinary collaboration and clinical trials are critical to defining its future in lung cancer care.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction
01:38 - Understanding Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) Ablation
05:36 - Comparing Ablation Techniques: Cryoablation vs Microwave Ablation vs PEF Ablation
10:08 - Potential Immunological Responses, Safety, and Efficacy of PEF
23:40 - The Imprint Lung Trial: Exploring Immune System Stimulation in Cancer Treatment
29:18 - Patient Case Studies and Treatment Outcomes
32:41 - Challenges in Post-Treatment Imaging
36:41 - Procedure Times and Techniques for Ablation
41:51 - Comparing Pneumothorax Rates in Different Ablative Technologies
43:56 - Future Directions and Collaborative Efforts in Cancer Treatment

Resources

PEF in Stage IV Lung Cancer
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40409026/

IMPRINT-Lung Trial
https://www.cancer.gov/research/participate/clinical-trials-search/v?id=NCI-2018-01588

Phase 1b Study of Dazostinag plus Pembrolizumab after Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in Patients with Select Advanced Solid Tumors
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12754119/

FLASH Radiotherapy
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9591027/

The Materials available on BackTable are for informational and educational purposes only and are not a substitute for the professional judgment of a healthcare professional in diagnosing and treating patients. The opinions expressed by participants of the BackTable Podcast belong solely to the participants, and do not necessarily reflect the views of BackTable.

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