Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41549218›Full record

Trial reportAnnals of surgical oncology2026

Prospective Phase II Multicenter Trial of Ablation after Breast Lumpectomy Added To Extend (ABLATE) Intraoperative Margins for the Sole Local Treatment of Breast Cancer.

Kristalyn Gallagher, Sheldon Feldman, Julie Barone, Joshua Mammen, Robert Barone, Daniela Ochoa, Marilee McGinness, Thomas Frazer, Rebecca Viscusi, Julie E Lang and 6 more

Abstract readClinical Trial, Phase IIMulticenter Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Annals of surgical oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Kristalyn GallagherDepartment of Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Sheldon FeldmanDepartment of Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.
Julie BaroneIntermountain Health Saint Joseph Hospital, Santa Maria, CA, USA.
Joshua MammenDepartment of Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
Robert BaroneOncology Associates of San Diego at Sharp Memorial Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA.
Daniela OchoaDepartment of Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
Marilee McGinnessDepartment of Surgery, University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS, USA.
Thomas FrazerBryn Mawr Hospital, Bryn Mawr, PA, USA.
Rebecca ViscusiDepartment of Surgery, Tucson Medical Center Health Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ, USA.
Julie E LangDepartment of Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Jeannette LeeDepartment of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, UAMS, Little Rock, AR, USA.
Laura L AdkinsDepartment of Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
Sherry JohnsonSurgery, Anchorage, AK, USA.
Ronda Henry-TillmanDepartment of Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
Soheila KorourianSurgery, Anchorage, AK, USA.
V Suzanne KlimbergDepartment of Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA. klimberg1954@gmail.com.

Funding

University of Arkansas for Translational Research Institute/Arkansas Breast Cancer Research Program CTSA Grant Award #UL1TR000039
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundExcision followed by radiofrequency ablation (eRFA) is an intraoperative method that utilizes intracavitary hyperthermia to create an additional tumor-free zone around the lumpectomy cavity in patients with breast cancer, similar to partial breast irradiation. We hypothesized that intraoperative eRFA extends the "final" tumor-free margin, decreases local recurrence, and maintains cosmesis without the need for radiation (XRT). PATIENTS AND

methodsPatients with unifocal ER+PR+HER2- or DCIS tumors less than or equal to 3 cm with clinically negative nodes were included. After standard lumpectomy, the RFA probe was deployed 1 cm circumferentially into the walls of the lumpectomy cavity. RFA was performed at 100°C for 15 min, followed by validated intraoperative Doppler sonography. Pain and cosmesis were assessed with the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) scales.

resultsA total of 242 subjects were accrued to the study, with a median follow-up of 44 months (range 12-96 months); 60% were invasive ductal cancer (IDC), and 33% were ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The average size was 1.1 ± 0.6 cm (0.2-3 cm). Reexcision for positive margins was < 5%. In-breast recurrence rate was 2.9%. Breast pain at 6 months was 19% with RFA combined with XRT versus 1.7% with RFA alone (p < 0.05). Cosmesis was good or excellent in 89% of subjects.

conclusionsA majority of the subjects avoided whole breast XRT and mastectomy. Results indicate that eRFA, in lieu of XRT, is safe and effective, resulting in ~fivefold lower pain. By completing therapy in the operating room, eRFA can potentially enhance patient access and compliance, alleviate financial stress, and deliver superior cosmetic and quality-of-life outcomes.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsCarcinoma, Ductal, BreastCarcinoma, Intraductal, NoninfiltratingCarcinoma, LobularCatheter AblationMastectomy, SegmentalRadiofrequency AblationAdultAgedAged, 80 and overCombined Modality TherapyErbB ReceptorsFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansIntraoperative CareErbB ReceptorsAblationBreast cancerConservative breast surgeryLumpectomyRadiationRadiofrequencyRFA

Identifiers

PMID41549218
PMCPMC13179258

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.