Electrochemotherapy leads to better penetration and accumulation of chemotherapeutics in the tumour. Tumours can be injected locally (carboplatin or bleomycin), or the chemotherapeutic can be administered intravenously. Normally, these chemomolecules are not able to cross a tumour cell’s membrane. Therefore, a probe is placed on or in the tumour and creates a temporary local electrical current, making the tumour cell membrane temporarily more permeable. As a result, a high dose of chemomolecules enter the cell, inevitably leading to its demise. This is an emerging technique and usually involves 2 sessions with 1-2 weeks in between. The strength of the evoked electrical pulse is comparable to an electric cattle fence, therefore the procedure takes place under general anaesthesia.
Electrochemotherapy can be used for skin tumours that are difficult to remove, such as some mast cell tumours, squamous cell carcinomas and melanomas.
Where is veterinary electrochemotherapy available? (non-exhaustive list)
