Experimental study on irreversible electrical breakdown of tumor cell under steep pulsed electric fields

Describes the dynamic changes of the SKOV3 cancer cell under steep pulsed electric fields (SPEFs, generated by the energy-controllable steep pulse apparatus for tumor treatment) using an inverted phase contrast microscope (IPCM) and finds that the cell was swollen in very short time. The study showed that the membrane of treated cell was destroyed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM), the nucleus was swollen and its karyotheca was not integrated under the transmission electron microscope (TEM). The mitochondria was also cavitated and swollen. It is clear that the SPEFs can result in irreversible electrical breakdown of the tumor cell. It may be a new therapy for tumor treatment.