Your gift is 100% tax deductible.
Tumor Treating Fields (TTF) Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer
Researchers have found that exposing some types of cancer cells to alternating electric fields, also known as tumor treating fields (or TTFields), can interfere with the cells’ ability to grow and spread.
A wearable device known as Optune Pax is a TTFields treatment that creates such electric fields. It is an option to help treat some people with pancreatic cancer.
When might TTFields be used to treat pancreatic cancer?
Optune Pax can be used along with chemotherapy to treat some people with locally advanced pancreatic cancer.
How is TTFields therapy given?
For this treatment, the abdomen (belly) is shaved, if needed, and pads containing sets of electrodes are placed on the skin.
The electrodes are attached to a battery pack (kept in a backpack) and are worn for most of the day - typically at least 12 hours. They create mild electric currents that are thought to affect cancer cells more than normal cells.
Possible side effects of TTFields therapy
Side effects of the device are usually limited to the electrode sites. They can include:
- Skin irritation
- Itching
- Allergic reactions
- Local warmth and tingling sensations
- Muscle twitching
- Infections
- Breakdown of the skin (ulcers)
- Written by
- References
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as editors and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
Babiker HM, Picozzi V, Chandana SR, et al. 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. 2025 Jul 20;43(21):2350-2360.
Novocure. Optune Pax Patient Information and Operation Manual (PIOM). 2026. Accessed at https://www.optunepax.com/patient-information-and-operation-manual on February 17, 2026.
US Food and Drug Administration. FDA Approves First-of-Its-Kind Device to Treat Pancreatic Cancer [Press Release]. February 12, 2026. Accessed at https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-its-kind-device-treat-pancreatic-cancer on February 17, 2026.
Last Revised: February 17, 2026
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
American Cancer Society Emails
Sign up to stay up-to-date with news, valuable information, and ways to get involved with the American Cancer Society.
