Irreversible electroporation: Beyond the limits of tumor ablation

Radiologia (Engl Ed). 2024 Jan-Feb;66(1):47-56. doi: 10.1016/j.rxeng.2023.04.002. Epub 2023 Jun 26.ABSTRACTIrreversible Electroporation (IRE) is a non-thermal tumor ablation technique. High-voltage electrical pulses are applied between pairs of electrodes inserted around and/or inside a tumor. The generated electric current induces the creation of nanopores in the cell membrane, triggering apoptosis. As a result, IRE can be safely used in areas near delicate vascular structures where other thermal ablation methods are contraindicated. Currently, IRE has demonstrated to be a successful ablation technique for pancreatic, renal, and liver tumors and is widely used as a focal therapeutic option for prostate cancer. The need for specific anesthetic management and accurate parallel placement of multiple electrodes entails a high level of complexity and great expertise from the interventional team is required. Nevertheless, IRE is a very promising technique with a remarkable systemic immunological capability and may impact on distant metastases (abscopal effect).PMID:38365354 | DOI:10.1016/j.rxeng.2023.04.002

Source: Radiologia - February 16, 2024 Category: Radiology Authors: R Alonso-Gonz ález J M Abadal Villayandre E G álvez Gonzalez M J Álvarez Perez S M éndez Alonso M A de Gregorio Ariza Source Type: research