Effective electroporation therapy of human pancreatic tumors implanted in nude mice

Electroporation therapy (EPT), also known as electrochemotherapy (ECT), of a poorly differentiated human pancreatic carcinoma (Panc-3) implanted subcutaneously in nude mice significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of bleomycin to tumor cells. A single treatment of intratumoral injection of bleomycin followed by 6 x 99 mu s square wave electrical pulses of 1370 V resulted in complete tumor regression in 68% and partial regression (>80%) in 20% of the treated mice on day 28 following treatment. No palpable tumor was observed in 64% of the mice even 120 days after treatment. Histological studies of tissue samples taken from tumor sites 120 days after treatment in the D+E+ group showed complete absence of tumor cells.