Electrically mediated drug delivery for treating subcutaneous and orthotopic pancreatic adenocarcinoma in a hamster model.
BACKGROUND
Current therapies for pancreatic adenocarcinoma only benefit a fraction of those diagnosed with this disease. New strategies for improving treatment are clearly needed. This study investigated the use of electrically mediated drug delivery for the treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma in a hamster model.


METHODS
Hamster PC-1 pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells and Golden Syrian hamsters were used as a model.


RESULTS
In vitro testing indicated that bleomycin was more effective than Cisplatin and Doxorubicin when delivered using pulsed electric fields. Treatment of subcutaneous tumors with bleomycin and electric fields resulted in a 100 percent complete response rate. No effect was observed when either drug or pulses were used alone. Treatment of tumors induced in the gland resulted in a 25 percent complete response rate.


CONCLUSIONS
Electrochemotherapy was highly effective for subcutaneous tumors. There was also a significant antitumor effect for the more complex and clinically relevant intraoperative treatment of tumors in the pancreas.
Jaroszeski
M J
MJ
Department of Surgery, University of South Florida, Tampa 33612-4799, USA. mjarosze@coml.med.usfedu
Illingworth
P
P
Pottinger
C
C
Hyacinthe
M
M
Heller
R
R
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004566:Electrodes; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured