Clinical Aspects Of Electroporation

Electroporation is the forefront in tumor ablation. This book presents the basic principles and clinical applications of electroporation, including the latest research results and patient data. A comprehensive approach to the basic science behind the development of this ground-breaking technique and its introduction into clinical practice, the book discusses the entire spectrum of currently available reversible treatments, the emerging irreversible applications, and their impact on patient care. Clinical Aspects of Electroporation is the first book intended for clinicians on this extremely important and rapidly developing field.

Non-thermal irreversible electroporation is a new minimally invasive surgical p- cedure with unique molecular selectivity attributes – in fact it may be considered the first clinical molecular surgery procedure. Non-thermal irreversible electro- ration is a molecular selective mode of cell ablation that employs brief electrical fields to produce nanoscale defects in the cell membrane, which can lead to cell death, without an effect on any of the other tissue molecules. The electrical fields can be produced through contact by insertion of electrode needles around the undesirable tissue and non-invasively by electromagnetic induction. This new - dition to the medical armamentarium requires the active involvement and is of interest to clinical physicians, medical researchers, mechanical engineers, che- cal engineers, electrical engineers, instrumentation designers, medical companies and many other fields and disciplines that were never exposed in their training to irreversible electroporation or to a similar concept. This edited book is designed to be a comprehensive introduction to the field of irreversible electroporation to those that were not exposed or trained in the field before and can also serve as a reference manual. Irreversible electroporation is broad and interdisciplinary. Therefore, we have made an attempt to cover every one of the various aspects of the field from an introductory basic level to state of the art.

Electroporation-Based Therapies for Cancer reviews electroporation-based clinical studies in hospitals for various cancer treatments, including melanomas, head and neck cancers, chest wall breast carcinomas, and colorectal cancers, as well as research studies in the lab using cell lines, primary cells, and animals. Cancer kills about one American per minute, amounting to over 500,000 deaths in the United States and millions, worldwide, each year. There is a critical need for safe, effective, and affordable alternative treatment modalities, especially for inoperable, recurring, and chemo-resistant cancers, that do not respond well to current treatment regimen. An electrical-pulse-mediated, enhanced drug delivery technique known as electroporation is one way to effectively treat these patients. This technique is especially suitable for low- and middle-income countries, where lack of infrastructure and resources leads to cancer diagnoses at late stages. This quick, safe, effective, economical, out-patient-based technique is a boon to these patients for palliative and other care with enhanced quality of life. This book features discussions by interdisciplinary authors—including practicing oncological surgeons, medical professionals, and academic and other researchers—of the basics and clinical medical applications of electroporation. Provides novel and recent clinical applications of electrochemotherapy for various cancers, including melanomas, sarcomas, superficial extreme melanoma, chest wall breast carcinoma, and colorectal cancers Extensive study of a number of cell lines, including human breast cancer, lung cancer, cervical cancer, leukemia, and mouse breast cancer using both reversible and irreversible electroporation techniques In vitro study of delivery of various commonly prescribed/administered breast cancer chemo and hormone drugs, such as Doxorubicin, Paclitaxel, Bleomycin, and Tamoxifen

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the clinical use of irreversible electroporation (IRE) – better known by its commercial name, NanoKnife – which is one of the most exciting new needle-guided cancer treatments. The coverage includes the history of IRE, general technique, preclinical research, applications in clinical practice and early clinical results, and future perspectives. Contraindications, treatment planning, potential complications, follow-up imaging, and other practical aspects are fully discussed, with highlighting of useful tips and tricks. Through the delivery of short but highly intense electrical pulses, IRE results in tumor cell membrane permeabilization, causing cells to go into apoptosis. The minimally invasive nature of IRE, combined with the prospect of completely eradicating tumors while preserving delicate structures in the ablation zone, makes IRE the object of worldwide clinical research. This book will be of value for practitioners and trainees in interventional and diagnostic radiology, surgery, medical oncology, HPB and gastroenterology, urology, and radiation oncology.

Electroporation gene therapy, or gene electrotransfer, has evolved greatly over the last few decades as a result of the remarkable progress in genetic sequencing, gene array analysis, gene cloning, gene expression detection, DNA manufacture and discovery and synthesis of siRNA. Electroporation Protocols: Preclinical and Clinical Gene Medicine, Second Edition provides in-depth knowledge on the delivery of naked DNA and small-interfering RNA (siRNA) to the targeted cells, tissues, and animals for prevention and treatment of disease. It builds on the success of the first edition and on the progress made in siRNA delivery and DNA vaccines for large animals as well as discovery of electroporation applications for the fragile tissues and for internal organs. Written in the successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and easily accessible, Electroporation Protocols: Preclinical and Clinical Gene Medicine, Second Edition aims to provide not only comprehensive coverage of the basic theory and practical application of electroporation siRNA therapy, gene therapy, and vaccine, but also elaborates on the most current views from the experts in this field, serving as an invaluable resource for investigators both in and outside of this field.

This is the first edited collection on veterinary applications of electroporation. Written by an international team of experts, this book presents worldwide emerging therapy options for cancer treatments in veterinary oncology practice. Electroporation offers a precision tool to target cancer cells without destroying surrounding tissue structures. The opening of tumor cell membranes facilitates local control of solid tumors either through the delivery of chemotherapeutics or by direct ablation of tissues using electric fields. In addition, transfer of gene-based products into the cancer cells can be used for genetic vaccination to achieve systemic responses and cancer control. Readers will discover valuable reference texts for practitioner education, including chapters on electrodes for unique anatomical access and treatment planning for deep-seated tumors, different immunotherapy applications with gene electrotransfer, calcium electroporation, irreversible electroporation applications and combinations with other common treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Therapy options with electroporation are gaining interest around the world in both human and veterinary oncology, making this book valuable for oncologists, surgeons, primary care veterinarians, residents, interns and students at veterinary schools, where teaching of Electrochemotherapy will become part of the curriculum. Featuring cross-disciplinary authorship, this work further contributes to advances in comparative medicine and translation research in support of the One Health concept.

Biological and Medical Aspects of Electromagnetic Fields examines potential health hazards, exposure standards, and medical applications of electromagnetic (EM) fields. The second volume in the bestselling and newly revisedHandbook of Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields, Third Edition, this book draws from the latest studies on the effects of exposure to electric and magnetic fields. In addition to extensive reviews of physiological effects, the book contains now separate reviews of behavioral and cognitive responses to various exposures. The book also describes an approach to setting standards for exposure limits and explores a few of the beneficial uses of EM fields in medical applications, both diagnostics and in treatment. Biological and Medical Aspects of Electromagnetic Fields provides a practical overview of the experiments and methods used to observe ELF and RF fields and the possible useful and hazardous implications of these observations.