Electrochemotherapy - Evidence for Cell-type Selectivity In Vitro.
OBJECTIVE
Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a new cancer treatment modality that uses electroporation to potentiate chemotherapeutic agents, especially bleomycin. ECT causes both a direct toxic effect and an anti-vascular effect. The aim of the present study was to investigate a possible selective effect of ECT on the survival of fibroblasts, endothelial cells (HUVEC) and two squamous cell carcinoma cell lines (CAL-27 and SCC-4).


METHODS
Cells were electroporated using two bleomycin concentrations. The survival rate was assessed 1, 2, 3 and 4 days after treatment, by two different assays.


RESULTS
The survival rate of the fibroblasts was statistically significantly higher than the other cell lines at day 4. The HUVEC survival rate was statistically significantly lower than the other cell types at day 1 after electroporation-alone.


CONCLUSIONS
A selective survival effect after ECT was observed in vitro, supporting the anti-vascular effect seen in vivo.
Department of Otolaryngology, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden School of Health and Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden fredrik.landstrom@orebroll.se.
Fredrik
F
Landström
School of Health and Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
Mikael
M
Ivarsson
Clinical Research Center, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden.
Anita Koskela
AK
Von Sydow
School of Health and Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden Clinical Research Center, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden.
Anders
A
Magnuson
Department of Otolaryngology, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden School of Health and Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
Mathias
M
Von Beckerath
School of Health and Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
Claes
C
Möller
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D053672:Electrochemotherapy; D018274:Electroporation / Q000379:methods*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D001761:Bleomycin
Electrochemotherapy; bleomycin; endothelial cells; fibroblasts; head and neck cancer; selectivity; squamous cell carcinoma