Electrochemotherapy (Reversible Electroporation) for Cancer Treatment at Medias Clinic Burghausen

9.70

Burghausen, Germany

Overview

Age group

Adults

Type of care

Inpatient

Method

Gentle

About the offer

Electrochemotherapy, also known as reversible electroporation, is a targeted cancer treatment that uses electrical pulses to increase the permeability of tumor cell membranes, thereby enabling more effective drug delivery. This technique involves applying a controlled electrical voltage to the tumor cells, making their membranes temporarily permeable. This process enables larger chemotherapeutic agents, such as bleomycin, to enter tumor cells more efficiently, thereby significantly enhancing their effectiveness. By using small doses of these drugs, the therapy minimizes the potential side effects typically associated with chemotherapy. The key advantage of electrochemotherapy is its localized application, which focuses treatment on the tumor region, reducing systemic exposure to chemotherapeutic agents. The process works by inserting electrodes, which act as needles, into the tumor. The electrical voltage applied through these electrodes creates temporary pores in the membranes of the tumor cells. This "poration" lasts only for a few minutes, allowing chemotherapeutic drugs to infiltrate the tumor cells. After treatment, the cell membranes close, minimizing drug loss and ensuring that the therapeutic agents remain inside the cells for maximum efficacy. For certain chemotherapeutic drugs, such as bleomycin and cisplatin, this technique can enhance their cytotoxic effects by up to 1000-fold and 80-fold, respectively. By increasing the concentration of drugs within tumor cells, electrochemotherapy enables more targeted and efficient tumor destruction with lower doses, ultimately reducing the burden on the patient's system. Unlike irreversible electroporation, which uses higher voltages to irreversibly damage cells, reversible electroporation does not directly damage cells but instead facilitates the entry of chemotherapeutic agents. This makes it a valuable adjunct to chemotherapy, as it enhances the drugs' effectiveness without causing additional harm to healthy tissues. The electrical pulses themselves do not damage the blood vessels, making electrochemotherapy a safe and effective localized treatment option for various tumors. The timing of treatment relative to drug administration is crucial; when chemotherapy drugs are administered intravenously, a minimum interval of 8 to 40 minutes is recommended between the infusion and the application of electrical pulses. For intra-arterial infusions, the interval can be as short as 1 minute but should not exceed 40 minutes to ensure treatment effectiveness. One of the significant advantages of electrochemotherapy is that it can be repeated if necessary, especially in cases where the initial treatment did not yield the desired results or if the tumor relapses. A minimum interval of three weeks between treatments is recommended to allow the body to recover and to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy. This flexibility allows clinicians to adjust treatment based on the patient's response, providing a personalized, adaptive approach to cancer therapy. Electrochemotherapy has been shown to be effective for a wide range of tumors, particularly those located on the skin, such as skin cancers and metastatic tumors. It has also been successfully used to treat tumors in more challenging areas, including breast carcinomas, head and neck cancers, pancreatic tumors, hepatocellular carcinomas, and liver metastases. The therapy's effectiveness in treating these tumors is largely attributed to its ability to deliver chemotherapeutic agents directly to cancer cells, thereby increasing drug potency and enhancing tumor cell destruction. This therapy is suitable for patients over 18 and is generally safe for individuals of all ages, provided they meet the medical criteria for treatment. However, for electrochemotherapy to be effective, the tumor needs to be accessible to the electrodes, either through the skin or after surgical removal. This ensures that the treatment can be localized to the tumor, enabling optimal drug delivery and greater therapeutic benefit.

What’s included

Medical service

Examination

clinical history-taking
medical records review
physical examination
consultation with an oncosurgeon
consultation with an anesthesiologist
consultation with an oncologist

Laboratory tests

complete blood count (CBC)
blood type test (ABO, Rh)
biochemical analysis of blood (kidney and liver function tests, electrolytes, glucose)
inflammation blood tests
coagulation studies
urinalysis

Diagnosis

regional staging CT scan (on the indication)

Treatment

preoperative patient preparation
electrochemotherapy (reversible electroporation)
post-procedure care
symptomatic treatment

Other

chief physician fees
accommodation in a private room + 1 companion, all incl.
cost of essential medicines
cost of essential materials
anesthesia
nursing service
discharge medical records
further recommendations

Extra add-ons

Airport transfer

Shared room

Companion hospitalization

Hospital meals

Personal coordinator

AiroCare

AiroMedical support

Payment protection

Patient advocacy

Price match

Meet the provider

Prof. Dr. med. Karl Reinhard Aigner

oncology, regional chemotherapy, oncological surgery

9.70

Excellent

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Location

Krankenhausstraße 3a, 84489 Burghausen, Germany

FAQ

What is electrochemotherapy?

Electrochemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses electrical pulses to increase the permeability of tumor cell membranes, enabling more effective drug delivery. This process enhances the absorption of chemotherapeutic drugs, such as bleomycin, allowing them to enter the tumor cells more efficiently and improve the effectiveness of the treatment.

How does it work?

The procedure involves inserting electrodes into the tumor and applying controlled electrical pulses that temporarily open the cell membranes. This enables chemotherapy drugs to penetrate the tumor cells more effectively. After the treatment, the cell membranes close, ensuring that the drugs remain inside the cells for maximum therapeutic impact.

What types of cancer can be addressed?

Electrochemotherapy is effective for treating skin tumors, breast cancer, head and neck tumors, pancreatic cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver metastases. It can also be applied to other tumors based on individual medical assessment.