Treatment of brain tumours with electroporation and bleomycin in an in vivo rat model

• The purpose of the study was to examine the possibilities of prolonging the life of rats with brain tumours using electroporation only while conducting impedance scans to evaluate the rate of electroporation. During the experiments, the treated rats in the first batch had tumors grow for 14 days and were then given electroporation with 8 + 8 exponential pulses at 800 v/cm, and 15 micro-F. Three of the animals given electroporation and bleomycin and one of the animals given electroporation alone died within three days of treatment. The reason for this may be oedema and increased intracranial pressure due to the large amount of energy delivered to the brain. In the second batch of rats given electroporation with 8 + 8 exponential pulses at 800 V/cm but with the lower capacitance setting of 4.5 micro-F, none of the treated rats died within a week after treatment. Among these rats, the tumors had also grown for only 10 days, thus further decreasing the risk of critical increases of the intracranial pressure directly after treatment. Interpretation of the impedance scans made before and after is made difficult due to factors such as possible short-circuiting of electrodes due to bleeding in the operating area. Not counting the rats in the first batch that died within three days of treatment, the rats treated with electroporation had a significantly prolonged life compared to controls. These results combined with results of a prior study of treatment of brain tumors in rats with electroporation in combination with Bleomycin suggest that this form of treatment may prolong the life of patients with brain tumours.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kirurgi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Surgery (hsv//eng)

Keyword

rat model

bleomycin

brain tumour

electroporation

impedance

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)