Electroporation and Electrochemotherapy: Innovative Solutions for Targeted Cancer Therapy
Electroporation is an ultrastructural phenomenon that transiently increases the permeability of the cell membrane after electrical pulses are applied. This allows the intracellular transport of chemotherapeutic agents. It can also be used in gene therapies and vaccinations by transferring genetic material to the cell.i
Electrochemotherapy, the combination of low-dose chemotherapy and reversible electroporation, can be applied to solid tumours as long as it is accessible to the electrodes.i These tumours can be cutaneous or deep-seated, but accessible through endoscopy, laparoscopy or open surgery.i The process can be used to cause cell death by apoptosis at the time of mitotic division,ii or to shrink large tumours to facilitate easier surgical resections.
Electrochemotherapy offers several potential benefits as an alternative treatment option. These include:
• Low cost
• Ease of administration
• Possibility of repetition if necessary
• Promising response rate
• Minimal side effectsi
Indicators
Recognising when electrochemotherapy is suitable as a treatment option is essential to ensure it is offered to the right patients. Careful patient selection and optimal timing are key to achieving the best possible outcomes with this advanced therapy.
The main clinical indications for electrochemotherapy are malignant skin neoplasms or metastasised cancers, with the procedure showing encouraging outcomes in various tumour types (melanoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, breast cancer that has reached the skin, basal and squamous cell skin cancers, head and neck cancers that have spread to the skin).iii Unresectable tumours, whether due to size or location, may also be treated with electrochemotherapy.iv
Due to its minimally invasive nature and limited side effects, electrochemotherapy may be considered as an agreeable alternative for targeted therapy among oncology patients, especially those ineligible for surgery or other standard therapies.iv It is also a suitable procedure for elderly patients and those in poor physical health, even if repeated sessions are needed. The main side effects may include local pain, swelling, redness, depigmentation or hyperpigmentation, muscle contractions during the electroporation, and ulcers.iv These are generally short-term and are often be managed, even in physically vulnerable patients.
Electroporation and electrochemotherapy are invaluable options in the fight against cancer. For an advanced reversible electroporation technology that facilitates a minimally invasive approach, consider the Cliniporatorâ VITAE manufacturer by IGEA Medical, available from Getz Healthcare in Australia and New Zealand. Featuring a sophisticated R-wave detector that delivers pulses during the heart’s refractory period, the Cliniporator® VITAE is designed to optimise treatment delivery while supporting clinical outcomes.
i Luz, J.C. dos S. da, Antunes, F., Clavijo-Salomon, M.A., Signori, E., Tessarollo, N.G. and Strauss, B.E. (2021). Clinical Applications and Immunological Aspects of Electroporation-Based Therapies. Vaccines, [online] 9(7), p.727. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9070727.
ii www.igeamedical.com. (n.d.). What is electroporation? | IGEA Medical. [online] Available at: https://www.igeamedical.com/en/electrochemotherapy/electroporation#:~:text=Clinical%20indication%3A%20superficial%20and%2For [Accessed 2 Aug. 2024].
iii www.cancerresearchuk.org. (n.d.). Electrochemotherapy for cancers affecting the skin | Cancer Research UK. [online] Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/treatment/other/electrochemotherapy.
iv Cucu, C.I., Giurcăneanu, C., Popa, L.G., Orzan, O.A., Beiu, C., Holban, A.M., Grumezescu, A.M., Matei, B.M., Popescu, M.N., Căruntu, C. and Mihai, M.M. (2021). Electrochemotherapy and Other Clinical Applications of Electroporation for the Targeted Therapy of Metastatic Melanoma. Materials, 14(14), p.3985. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14143985.
Disclaimer:
The content of this blog is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Treatment options and outcomes may vary based on individual patient needs and clinical circumstances. Healthcare professionals should always be consulted for personalised medical advice before pursuing any diagnosis, treatment, or medical procedure.