Electrochemotherapy – An effective method for treatment of tumors with combination of chemotherapeutic agent and electric field

Abstract

Electrochemotherapy is a local treatment for skin tumors and also deep seated tumors and metastases. Electrochemotherapy is based on enhanced cytotoxic effectiveness of bleomycin or cisplatin by electroporation, which increases drug delivery into cells in tumors. Electrochemotherapy is an ablative technique of high effectiveness with over 80% objective responses of electrochemotherapy treated tumors. Its advantage is the simplicity of the procedure that can be utilized in treatment of different tumor histiotypes. Currently it is predominantly used in palliative intent when the other treatment options have been exhausted. For the translation of electrochemotherapy into the clinics also the technological development that is now focusing into the treatment of deep-seated tumors was important. In Slovenia we are at the forefront in the treatment of liver tumors and head and neck tumors, while the others are developing electrochemotherapy for treatment of bone and brain metastases as well as endoluminal tumors.

Keywords

• electrochemotherapy
• electroporation
• chemotherapeutic agent
• tumor
• cancer treatment