Cancer cells have electrically charged parts hence are influenced by electric fields. Application of alternating electric fields (TTFields) to solid tumours selectively target and disrupt mitosis at different stages in division of cancer cells, enhance antitumor immunity and downregulate DNA damage response leading to death of cancer cells. Clinical trials have shown that TTFields therapy enhances survival rates of glioblastoma, mesothelioma and metastatic non–small cell lung cancer cases hence TTFields therapy was approved for the treatment of these cancer cases earlier. Now, on 12 February 2026, based on the results from a recent clinical trial, FDA has approved TTFields therapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer as well. This is significant given clinical management of pancreatic cancer is challenging in view of poor prognosis and low survival rate.
Alternating electrical fields, known as Tumour Treating Fields (TTFields), delivered by a portable non-invasive electric field generating device has been approved for the treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer in adults.
Optune Pax, the portable device developed by Novocure was approved for the treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer on 12 February 2026 by the FDA based on results of phase 3 clinical trial which showed that the addition of TTFields to standard of care chemotherapies gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (GnP) improved overall survival by approximately two months compared to GnP alone. The device had received Breakthrough Device designation earlier in December 2024.
Tumour Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy is a non-invasive cancer treatment. It uses a specific sinusoidal electric field ranging from 100 kHz to 300 kHz, which disrupts the rapid cell division of cancer cells and induce cell death while the healthy cells remain largely unaffected. It is well tolerated by the patients and is found to enhance overall survival of patients with solid tumours.
TTFields is already an approved treatment of newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and metastatic non–small cell lung cancer. Locally advanced pancreatic cancer is the latest in the list.
Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease with poor prognosis and low survival rate. It is one of the most difficult cancers to treat. Approval of TTFields for the Stage III locally advanced pancreatic cancer offers a new treatment option to the patients.
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References:
- FDA News Release – FDA Approves First-of-Its-Kind Device to Treat Pancreatic Cancer. Posted 12 February 2026. Available at https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-its-kind-device-treat-pancreatic-cancer
- Babiker H. M. et al 2025. Tumor Treating Fields With Gemcitabine and Nab-Paclitaxel for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: Randomized, Open-Label, Pivotal Phase III PANOVA-3 Study. J Clin Oncol 43, 2350-2360(2025) Volume 43, Number 21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO-25-00746
- Effect of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields, 150 kHz) as Front-Line Treatment of Locally-advanced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Concomitant With Gemcitabine and Nab-paclitaxel (PANOVA-3). NCT03377491.Available at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03377491?tab=study
- Serventi J. N. and Newton H. B., 2025. Tumor Treating Fields: An Innovative Therapy for Glioblastoma and Other Solid Tumors. JADPRO Volume 16, Number 5 (Sep/Oct 2025). DOI: https://doi.org/10.6004/jadpro.2025.16.5.3
- Li, Xing et al 2023. A review of tumor treating fields (TTFields): advancements in clinical applications and mechanistic insights. Radiology and Oncology Volume 57 (2023): Issue 3 (September 2023), DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/raon-2023-0044
- Shams S. and Patel C.B., 2022. Anti-cancer mechanisms of action of therapeutic alternating electric fields (tumor treating fields [TTFields]). Journal of Molecular Cell Biology, Volume 14, Issue 8, August 2022, mjac047. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jmcb/mjac047
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TTFields Mechanism of Action
 to solid tumours selectively target and disrupt mitosis at different stages in division of cancer cells, enhance antitumor immunity and downregulate DNA damage response leading to death of cancer cells. Clinical trials have shown that TTFields therapy enhances survival rates of glioblastoma, mesothelioma and metastatic non–small cell lung cancer cases hence TTFields therapy was approved for the treatment of these cancer cases earlier. Now, on 12 February 2026, based on the results from a recent clinical trial, FDA has approved TTFields therapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer as well. This is significant given clinical management of pancreatic cancer is challenging in view of poor prognosis and low survival rate.){kind=link}