Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in a rat model using electrochemotherapy

Jaroszeski, M.J; Coppola, D; Pottinger, C; Benson, K; Gilbert, R.A; Heller, R

« Previous Next »European Journal of Cancer
Volume 37, Issue 3 , Pages 422-430, February 2001

Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in a rat model using electrochemotherapy

M.J Jaroszeski
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33612-4799, USA
- Center for Molecular Delivery, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +1-813-974-4662; fax: +1-813-974-2669
D Coppola
- G.I. Tumor Program, Department of Pathology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, MDC 11, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
C Pottinger
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33612-4799, USA
K Benson
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, MDC 11, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
R.A Gilbert
- Center for Molecular Delivery, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
- College of Engineering, ENB 118, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
R Heller
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33612-4799, USA
- Center for Molecular Delivery, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
- Cutaneous Oncology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

Received 2 May 2000; received in revised form 29 September 2000; accepted 2 October 2000.

Abstract

The effectiveness of antineoplastic agents has been augmented by applying pulsed electric fields directly to tumours after the administration of the drug. This treatment, known as electrochemotherapy (ECT), has been successful for cutaneous malignancies in animal models and in recent clinical trials. This study was aimed at investigating the applicability of ECT in a surgical setting for hepatocellular carcinomas induced in the livers of rats. Established tumours were injected with bleomycin, and electric pulses were then administered locally. Animals were followed based on tumour volumes and histological samples. Dose response data were obtained for both electric field intensity and bleomycin. Complete response rates for animals treated with electrochemotherapy ranged from 26.67% to 93.33 and were durable. In contrast, tumours that received no treatment, pulses only or drug only responded minimally. This supports the feasibility of using a ECT as a modality for treating hepatocellular carcinoma.

Keywords: Electrochemotherapy, Electroporation, Electropermeabilisation, Bleomycin, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Chemotherapy, Liver neoplasm