EU project furthers electrochemotherapy

Published: 16-Jan-2006

An EU-funded research project has developed medical equipment aiding cancer drugs by administering electric shocks to patients.


An EU-funded research project has developed medical equipment aiding cancer drugs by administering electric shocks to patients.

The ESOPE programme has created the 'Cliniporator' that uses short high voltage pulsed electric fields to make the membrane of tumour cells more porous, and more receptive to medicines.

A European Commission briefing note1 said the Cliniporator was especially useful, because of its low cost (€45,000), with electrodes costing €700. This, it said, could 'take some of the strain off public health budgets, (and) make it easier to transfer Cliniporator to developing countries.'

Project coordinator Dr Lluis M. Mir of France's Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) said this electrochemotherapy "is an ideal treatment for tumours resistant to conventional therapies."

  

You may also like