Effective use of electrical pulses on cancer cells to control proliferation

Electroporation or Electropermeabilization (EP) is a viable physical technique wherein high intensity, short duration pulses are applied to temporarily open up pores due to the field enhancement (E=V/d = 0.5V/10nm) in the plasma membrane of cells to allow transport of therapeutic materials including drugs, antibodies and genes (DNA) which otherwise are impermeable. Since the application of pulses is only for a very short duration, the cell membranes eventually reseal and make the drug molecules to act. A low dose of the chemo drug is injected intra-tumorally or intravenously, a few minutes before the application of the pulses. An extension of the electroporation is the drug-free or drugless irreversible electroporation where only more number of higher intensity and longer duration pulses (compared to ECT) are used to control the proliferation of the tumor cells, including a successful clinical trial for prostate cancer. This article addresses the hypothesis that electrical pulse could be used to enhance intracellular drug delivery and effects of chemotherapeutics for various cancers.