title: Successful application of targeted electrochemotherapy using novel flexible electrodes and low dose bleomycin to solid tumours.
abstract: Electroporation is the application of very brief electric pulses to cells or tissues to render the cell membranes transiently and reversibly permeable, facilitating cellular uptake of otherwise impermeant molecules. Flexible electrode arrays were developed which may be used with endoscopic and laparoscopic devices for delivery of therapeutic electroporation. Their efficacy in enhancing the delivery of bleomycin, an impermeant drug, was assessed in vitro and in vivo in both human and murine cancer cell lines, and growing tumours (xenografts). These flexible electrodes consistently and predictably deliver the permeabilising electric pulses requisite for in vivo electroporation, and would be suitable for electrochemotherapy of endoluminal tumours when incorporated into an endoscopic delivery system.
authors.affiliation: Cork Cancer Research Centre, Mercy University Hospital and Leslie C. Quick Jnr Laboratory, Grenville Place, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Declan M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Soden
authors.forename: John O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Larkin
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tangney
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aarons
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piggott
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morrissey
authors.forename: Colum
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dunne
authors.forename: Gerald C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004566:Electrodes; D018274:Electroporation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin