Radiofrequency ablation is an effective treatment that may improve survival rates and even 'cure' primary non-small cell lung tumors in patients ineligible for surgery, research suggests.

Dr Thierry de Baere, an interventional radiologist at the Institut Gustave Roussy in Villejuif, France, presented the findings at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 33rd Annual Scientific Meeting in Washington, DC.

The study enrolled 195 patients with lung metastases and 49 with primary non-small cell lung cancer, in all 397 tumors all 4cm or less in diameter.

The researchers said that radiofrequency ablation was achievable in all but two of the patient group. The rate of tumor progression at two years was 11.2% per tumor, and this rate was significantly lower for tumors smaller than 2cm.

They reported two-year survival rates of 70% overall - 72% for the patients with lung metastases and 64% for those with primary lung cancer. Furthermore, 38.8% of patients had no viable lung tumors at two years.

Dr de Baere commented: "About two-thirds of patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer are ineligible for surgery and typically have less than 12 months to live. A subset of these patients ineligible for surgery can be treated with radiofrequency ablation with the intention of curing the primary tumor."

He added: "70% of my patients gained at least another two years. This new outpatient treatment is effective, allowing us to treat patients who historically have only palliative options, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy."