Electrochemotherapy: A new treatment for cutaneous and subcutaneous tumor lesions

Electrochemotherapy is a non thermal tumour ablation modality used on any type of solid tumour. It is based on the local delivery of electric pulses that permeabilize cell membranes to allow the delivery of non-permeable or low-permeable anti cancer drugs. Cell electropermeabilisation is not intended to kill the cells: it only allows the delivery of small molecules into the cell. Trains of 8 short (100 microsec) high voltage pulsed are typically used. The physiological and biological bases of ECT has been explored for the last 15 years. The CLINIPORATOR project led to the development of a new device, the Cliniporator^TM which is now available to all oncologists and can be used in the clinical practice.