Reversible Chemoelectroporation For Tumors

Chemoelectroporation is an advanced medical technology used for the targeted treatment of tumors in the liver, abdomen, soft tissues and bones, that cannot be surgically removed or ablated with thermal methods. It is considered one of the most innovative methods in interventional radiology. The procedure is based on the use of very rapid high voltage electrical pulses directed specifically at the affected tissue.
The main goal of the procedure is to permeabilize the cell membrane, which allows for chemotherapy to concentrate in very high doses in the tumor cells. Close proximity to major blood vessels, bile ducts, intestine or nerves limits conventional thermal ablation methods that may cause irreversible damage to these structures, chemoelectroporation operates through a different mechanism that preserves these tissues.
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The procedure is carried out under general anesthesia in a CT room or an angiography suite. The interventional radiologist inserts thin long needles that function as electrodes through the skin using real time imaging to achieve maximum precision. Once the electrodes are positioned around the tumor the device delivers electrical pulses. Chemotherapy is infused to the blood stream, due to the electrical pulses chemotherapy is able to penetrate in much higher doses to the tumor.
 

The hospitalization period after the procedure is usually very short and most patients return to routine activity within a few days. Follow up after the procedure includes periodic imaging tests to ensure that the tumor has been fully destroyed and to monitor the healing process of the surrounding tissue. Electroporation enables a therapeutic approach in areas that were previously considered unreachable thereby expanding treatment options for many patients.