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Irreversible electroporation enhances delivery of gemcitabine to pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Author(s) -
Bhutiani Neal,
Agle Steven,
Li Yan,
Li Suping,
Martin Robert C.G.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.24288
Subject(s) - gemcitabine , irreversible electroporation , electroporation , medicine , adenocarcinoma , chemotherapy , pancreas , apoptosis , pancreatic cancer , drug delivery , electrochemotherapy , oncology , cancer research , gastroenterology , urology , pharmacology , chemistry , cancer , biochemistry , organic chemistry , bleomycin , gene
Irreversible electroporation (IRE) utilizes short, high‐voltage pulses to irreversibly permeabilize the cell membrane, resulting in apoptotic cell death. In addition to the irreversible zone, IRE creates a reversible zone that could be utilized for enhanced drug delivery. The hypothesis of this study is that a zone of reversible electroporation exists and allows for increased chemotherapy delivery. Methods Ten immunocompromised mice with orthotopic human pancreatic adenocarcinoma tumors (Panc1) were treated with either IRE between two doses of gemcitabine (15 mg/kg) (ECT) (N = 5) or gemcitabine alone (N = 5). Gemcitabine levels in the serum, liver, and pancreas were analyzed with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). Results Concentration of gemcitabine within reversibly electroporated pancreatic tissue was higher in mice receiving ECT compared to those receiving gemcitabine alone (13,567 ng/ml vs.4,126 ng/ml; P = 0.0009). Pancreatic gemcitabine levels were 5.52 and 5.96 times higher than liver and serum levels, respectively, in the ECT group compared to 2.85 and 2.53 times higher ( P = 0.117, P = 0.058), respectively, in mice receiving gemcitabine alone. Conclusion IRE can potentially reduce local recurrence by allowing increased drug delivery to the tissue in the reversible electroporation zone. This holds significant potential in augmenting efficacy of gemcitabine in treatment of locally advanced and borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:181–186 . © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.