Electrochemotherapy – An Efficient Electroporation-Based Local Tumor Treatment

Abstract

Electrochemotherapy (ECT) a combination of high voltage electric pulses and of an anticancer drug has achieved great results in treatment of cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors. Unique properties of ECT (e.g. high specificity for targeting cancer cells, capacity for preserving the innate immune response and the structure of the extracellular matrix) are facilitating its wide spread in clinics. ECT proved to be successfully used in treatment of tumors regardless of its histological origin. Because of ECTs demonstrated efficacy in treatment of cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors, its application deserves to be extended to the treatment of internal tumors. In order to be able to use ECT also for treatment of internal tumors treatment must be performed without interfering with heart electrical activity (safety) while providing appropriate and effective electric pulses to the whole tumor tissue (efficacy). To advance ECT from treating cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors to internal solid tumors, new technological developments are needed that will enable treatment of internal tumors in daily clinical practice. To increase the probability of complete tumor eradication, the electrodes have to be accurately positioned, firstly to provide an adequate extent of electroporation of all tumor cells and secondly not to damage critical healthy tissue or organs if present in its vicinity. This can be achieved by patient-specific numerical treatment planning and image guided insertion of electrodes that will enable proper positioning of the electrodes.