Technology
Cyto Pulse uses pulsed electric field technology to deliver drugs
and DNA into cells. There are at least two uses for this technology
in veterinary oncology. One is local treatment of tumors. This
is a mature technology that is currently being utilized. The
other is delivery of DNA vaccines specific for tumor antigens. While
the technology to deliver DNA vaccines is mature, specific vaccines
are still in development.
Electroporation enhanced local chemotherapy or electrochemotherapy
uses in vivo electroporation to enhance the intracellular
uptake of potent chemotherapeutic reagents that are normally poorly
transported into cells. The water soluble chemotherapeutic agents
bleomycin and cisplatin are commonly used. The chemotherapeutic
agent is delivered directly to the tumor tissue by infusion or is delivered
intravenously. After infusion of the drug, electroporation is
used to assist transport of the drug across cell membranes.
There are two uses for electrochemotherapy in veterinary medicine. One
is to ablate solid tumors. A common example of this is the treatment
of facial squamous cell carcinoma. Another is to surgically remove
tumors and apply electrochemotherapy to the surgical field to kill
tissue infiltrating tumor cells. A published use for this technique
is equine sarcoid to help prevent the local reoccurrence of this tumor.
Cyto Pulse’s intratumeral electrode was designed specifically
for veterinary electrochemotherapy. This heavy duty electrode
uses parallel rows of needles for treatment of the largest area possible
between the needles. The needles are thicker and longer than
needles used for vaccination so that deeper areas of the tumor can
be treated. The trochar shaped tip assists in penetration of
tough tissue such as canine external nares.
The sequence of photos on the right shows
Squamous Cell Carcinoma on a Mastiff’s
carpus before, during and after treatment. The ECT dissolved the tumor and there
was
no reoccurrence. The images are courtesy of Ron Lowe, DVM. Additional treatment
results maybe found at: http://www.petcancervet.co.uk/ect.htm