title: Irreversible electroporation in eradication of rabbit VX2 liver tumor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To show the effectiveness and safety of irreversible electroporation (IRE) in treating large tumor models.
  
  
  METHODS
  VX2 liver tumor implantation was performed in 35 New Zealand White Rabbits. The rabbits were divided into three groups 1 week after implantation. The control group included 15 rabbits; the remaining 20 rabbits were divided into two IRE treatment groups. For the treatment groups, 10 rabbits underwent ablation with a single IRE application (IRE-S group), and 10 rabbits underwent ablation with multiple IRE applications (IRE-M group). Treatments and outcomes were analyzed using ultrasound, contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), and immunohistologic staining (hematoxylin and eosin [H&E], P-53, Ki-67, CD30, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor [VEGFR] staining, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated 2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate [dUTP]-biotin nick-end labeling [TUNEL] assay).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple IRE ablations consistently produced complete cell death in all the animals in the IRE-M group (n = 10, IRE ablation time 2.45 minutes ± 0.3). The results were validated with ultrasound, CT, H&E, Ki-67, P53, and TUNEL assay. A high level of CD30-positive cells were identified in the IRE groups. A sharply demarcated ablation zone with no damage to surrounding vital structures was observed in all IRE-treated tissues. No complications during or after ablation were observed in any of the animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effects of IRE were shown in a large tumor model with single and multiple IRE ablations (IRE-S and IRE-M treatment groups); complete ablation of the tumor was seen in the IRE-M group. These findings successfully show the beneficial effects and safety of IRE in the treatment of tumors and validate its potential as a clinically translatable treatment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Edward W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Daphne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Bashir A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Tafti
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.forename: Mariam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Totonchy
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hilton
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dry
authors.forename: Sona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.forename: Stephen T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Kee
mesh_terms: D055011:Ablation Techniques; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003287:Contrast Media; D018274:Electroporation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011817:Rabbits; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003287:Contrast Media; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor