Review
Immunology
Jean Carlos dos Santos da Luz, Fernanda Antunes, Maria Alejandra Clavijo-Salomon, Emanuela Signori, Nayara Gusmao Tessarollo, Bryan E. Strauss
Summary: Reversible electropermeabilization is a technique that transiently increases membrane permeability by applying electrical pulses, widely used in various fields from medicine to food processing. In oncology, it is applied for intracellular transport of chemotherapeutic drugs and delivery of genetic material, serving as important cancer therapies.
Article
Oncology
Paulius Ruzgys, Diana Navickaite, Ruta Palepsiene, Dovile Uzdavinyte, Neringa Barauskaite, Vitalij Novickij, Irute Girkontaite, Brigita Sitkauskiene, Saulius Satkauskas
Summary: This study shows that intracellular delivery of calcium ions and anticancer drug bleomycin not only kills the cells but also has a negative bystander effect on indirectly treated cells. These treatments are effective on directly treated tumors but have little effect on distal nodules. Combination with other methods is needed for the treatment of distal nodules.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paulius Ruzgys, Neringa Barauskaite, Vitalij Novickij, Jurij Novickij, Saulius Satkauskas
Summary: The study investigated the role of the bystander effect in electroporation-based treatments. It was found that bleomycin electrotransfer resulted in a strong negative impact on cell viability and colony size, while irreversible electroporation induced a strong positive bystander effect on cell viability. These results may lead to refined application of electroporation-based therapies in clinics.
Review
Oncology
Tobias Freyberg Justesen, Adile Orhan, Hans Raskov, Christian Nolsoe, Ismail Gogenur
Summary: This article introduces the immune response induced by electroporation and the impact on the immune system, as well as discusses the results of clinical and preclinical trials investigating the combination of electroporation modalities and immunotherapy. The potential of combining electrochemotherapy and irreversible electroporation with immunotherapy in cancer treatment is promising and may change the current treatment approaches for tumors with low immunogenicity and high levels of immunosuppression.
Review
Immunology
Xuan Gong, Zhou Chen, Jason J. Hu, Chao Liu
Summary: Electroporation is a process that increases the permeability of a cell membrane under a pulsed electric field. It can either be reversible or irreversible depending on the electric pulses and the target cell characteristics. Reversible electroporation facilitates the delivery of genetic materials or drugs to target cells, inducing cell death. Irreversible electroporation is a technology used for tissue ablation. Electroporation can also activate immune response and enhance immunotherapy.
Review
Oncology
Luca G. Campana, Adil Daud, Francesco Lancellotti, Julio P. Arroyo, Rafael V. Davalos, Claudia Di Prata, Julie Gehl
Summary: This article reviews the increasing role of locoregional therapies in contemporary oncology, with a focus on locoregional therapies harnessing electric pulses. Irreversible electroporation (IRE), gene electrotransfer (GET), electrochemotherapy (ECT), calcium electroporation (Ca-EP), and tumour-treating fields (TTF) are key techniques in therapeutic strategies. Despite their consolidated credibility and a favorable balance between efficacy and side effects, these therapies face fragmentation in terms of development stages and regulatory approval worldwide. This article summarizes the consensus of leading experts at the 4th World Congress of Electroporation in 2022, aiming to facilitate knowledge exchange and the development of synergistic treatment strategies to improve patient outcomes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna Bulysheva, Loree Heller, Michael Francis, Frency Varghese, Carly Boye, Richard Heller
Summary: A novel monopolar electroporation system and methodologies were developed for in vivo electroporation, showing enhanced gene expression through targeted electroporation and gene transfer achieved by an asymmetric anode/cathode electrode applicator geometry.
BIOELECTROCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Physics, Applied
W. Milestone, Q. Hu, A. M. Loveless, A. L. Garner, R. P. Joshi
Summary: A distributed circuit approach was used to simulate the effects of voltage pulses on cell membrane potentials and poration dynamics, showing strong heating and power dissipation, increasing membrane temperature with successive pulses, and large temperature gradients.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Reginald M. Atkins, Timothy J. Fawcett, Richard Gilbert, Andrew M. Hoff, Richard Connolly, Douglas W. Brown, Mark J. Jaroszeski
Summary: The research in this publication was primarily supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) and in part by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. Additional support was provided by various departments at USF, with approximately 80% of the study costs financed with federal money.
BIOELECTROCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Barbara Lisec, Bostjan Markelc, Katja Ursic Valentinuzzi, Gregor Sersa, Maja Cemazar
Summary: This study compared the effectiveness of CaEP and ECT, and investigated the impact of the combination of CaEP and IL-12 GET on tumors. The results showed that CaEP was more effective than ECT in vitro and in the 4T1 tumor model, while the efficacy of CaEP and ECT was similar in the B16-F10 tumor model. Furthermore, the combination of CaEP and IL-12 GET could modify tumor immune cells and vasculature, further enhancing the antitumor effect.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Katarzyna Rakoczy, Monika Kisielewska, Mikolaj Sedzik, Laura Jonderko, Julia Celinska, Natalia Sauer, Wojciech Szlasa, Jolanta Saczko, Vitalij Novickij, Julita Kulbacka
Summary: Electroporation enables the transport of molecules into the cytoplasm by forming transient pores in the cell membrane with electric pulses, offering novel possibilities in medicine, especially in cancer treatment and gene delivery.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tjasa Potocnik, Damijan Miklavcic, Alenka Macek Lebar
Summary: High-frequency bipolar pulses have been shown to be efficient for membrane permeabilization and irreversible electroporation, with successful gene electrotransfer (GET) achieved using these pulses. Transfection efficiency increased with higher pDNA concentrations, and overall GET obtained through HF-BP pulse protocols was comparable to longer monopolar pulse protocols. However, the number of pDNA copies successfully transferred into cells seemed to be higher with longer monopolar pulses.
BIOELECTROCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Tjasa Potocnik, Alenka Macek Lebar, Spela Kos, Matej Rebersek, Eva Pirc, Gregor Sersa, Damijan Miklavcic
Summary: The mechanisms and optimization strategies of nucleic acid delivery with gene electrotransfer (GET) are still not well understood. This article reviews the current state of knowledge through a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of in vitro GET studies, emphasizing the importance of parameter selection and result evaluation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Simona Kranjc Brezar, Ajda Medved, Urska Matkovic, Gregor Sersa, Bostjan Markelc, Tim Bozic, Mihaela Jurdana, Maja Cemazar
Summary: Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a local ablative therapy used to treat various skin and subcutaneous tumors as well as certain tumors in internal organs. The study aimed to investigate the side effects of ECT on skeletal muscle at the cellular level and determine its impact on myogenesis in a mouse muscle cell line.
BIOELECTROCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Maria Beatrice Bocchi, Cesare Meschini, Silvia Pietramala, Andrea Perna, Maria Serena Oliva, Maria Rosaria Matrangolo, Antonio Ziranu, Giulio Maccauro, Raffaele Vitiello
Summary: This review evaluated the effectiveness of electrochemotherapy in the treatment of bone metastases. The findings suggest that electrochemotherapy can be considered as a minimally invasive and tissue-sparing treatment for patients who have no other alternatives for tumor control and improvement in quality of life.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Rok Smerc, David A. A. Ramirez, Samo Mahnic-Kalamiza, Janja Dermol-Cerne, Daniel C. C. Sigg, Lars M. M. Mattison, Paul A. A. Iaizzo, Damijan Miklavcic
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of electric field orientation in anisotropic muscle tissue on irreversible electroporation damage. In vivo experiments were conducted on porcine skeletal muscle, with the electric field applied parallel or perpendicular to the muscle fibers. Results showed that lesions in the parallel group were consistently smaller and narrower than those in the perpendicular group. The study concludes that muscle anisotropy is a significant factor in determining electric field distribution in electroporation applications. Significance: 8/10
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Monika Savarin, Katarina Znidar, Gregor Sersa, Tilen Komel, Maja Cemazar, Urska Kamensek
Summary: Targeting specific endothelial cell markers involved in different signaling pathways for tumor radiosensitization shows promising potential. We evaluated a plasmid for silencing two prominent targets and explored the therapeutic potential of gene electrotransfer-mediated delivery of this plasmid in an in vivo study. The results demonstrate significant radiosensitization and a good therapeutic potential, making it a promising novel treatment modality for a wide range of tumors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Lars Mattison, Atul Verma, Khaldoun G. Tarakji, Tobias Reichlin, Gerhard Hindricks, Kevin L. Sack, Birce Onal, Megan M. Schmidt, Damijan Miklavcic, Daniel C. Sigg
Summary: In this study, it was found that contact force in pulsed field ablation (PFA) had minimal effects on lesion dimensions, with only a small increase in depth, width, and volume of the lesions. The importance lies in achieving tissue contact rather than the force applied.
JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Helena Plesnik, Masa Bosnjak, Maja Cemazar, Gregor Sersa, Tina Kosjek
Summary: The analysis of highly polar agents in cancer treatment is challenging due to their physicochemical properties. In this study, we focused on the analysis of polar cytotoxic bleomycin, which is a mixture of complexing congeners with high molecular mass. We optimized and validated an analytical method for its determination in pharmaceutical and biological specimens.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Jessica Genovese, Marko Strucic, Igor Sersa, Vitalij Novickij, Pietro Rocculi, Damijan Miklavcic, Samo Mahnic-Kalamiza, Matej Kranjc
Summary: Using magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography, we investigated the non-uniform effect of pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment on plant tissues such as apple, potato, and carrot. The results showed that the distribution of T2 relaxation times became increasingly inhomogeneous as the complexity of the tissue structure increased. The feasibility and potential of using the T2 mapping technique to analyze the effects of PEF on plant tissue structures were demonstrated.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sara Milicevic, Maja Cemazar, Andreja Klevisar Ivancic, Gorana Gasljevic, Masa Bosnjak, Gregor Sersa, Barbara Peric
Summary: Cutaneous melanoma, a highly aggressive form of skin cancer, has seen improved treatment with the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in the success of ICIs, and understanding its interactions is important for optimizing their efficacy. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) has been shown to enhance ICIs by inducing tumor cell death, releasing tumor antigens, and modulating the TME. This review summarizes the knowledge of TME changes after ECT in melanoma treatment and highlights differences in tumor-infiltrating immune cells between immunocompetent and immunosuppressed organisms, as well as the potential benefits of ECT for organ transplant recipients.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Ziva Modic, Maja Cemazar, Bostjan Markelc, Andrej Cor, Gregor Sersa, Simona Kranjc Brezar, Tanja Jesenko
Summary: This study successfully developed a transplantable immunocompetent mouse model of HPV-positive OSCC and characterized it in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that this model exhibited increased radiosensitivity compared to traditional OSCC mouse models and can be used to explore immune-based treatment approaches.
JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Barbara Lisec, Bostjan Markelc, Katja Ursic Valentinuzzi, Gregor Sersa, Maja Cemazar
Summary: This study compared the effectiveness of CaEP and ECT, and investigated the impact of the combination of CaEP and IL-12 GET on tumors. The results showed that CaEP was more effective than ECT in vitro and in the 4T1 tumor model, while the efficacy of CaEP and ECT was similar in the B16-F10 tumor model. Furthermore, the combination of CaEP and IL-12 GET could modify tumor immune cells and vasculature, further enhancing the antitumor effect.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Gregor Vivod, Masa Bosnjak, Nina Kovacevic, Gregor Sersa, Sebastjan Merlo, Maja Cemazar
Summary: This prospective institutional study aimed to determine the safety and feasibility of electrochemotherapy in the treatment of vulvar cancer recurrence. The results showed that electrochemotherapy is safe and feasible for the treatment of local vulvar cancer recurrence for nonpalliative purposes.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Tanja Jesenko, Simona Kranjc Brezar, Maja Cemazar, Alice Biasin, Domenico Tierno, Bruna Scaggiante, Mario Grassi, Chiara Grassi, Barbara Dapas, Nhung Hai Truong, Michela Abrami, Fabrizio Zanconati, Deborah Bonazza, Flavio Rizzolio, Salvatore Parisi, Giorgia Pastorin, Gabriele Grassi
Summary: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major global health challenge, ranking third in cancer deaths worldwide. Despite recent therapeutic advances, prognosis remains poor, necessitating the development of novel strategies. This study focuses on targeting molecules with aberrant expression confined to tumor cells, particularly non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) such as miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs. These ncRNAs play a significant role in regulating various aspects of HCC, including proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis. The review provides the latest state-of-the-art approaches, highlighting key trends and opportunities for advanced and efficacious HCC treatments.
Article
Immunology
Matias Tellado, Mariangela De Robertis, Daniela Montagna, Daniela Giovannini, Sergio Salgado, Sebastian Michinski, Emanuela Signori, Felipe Maglietti
Summary: This retrospective cohort study evaluated the addition of canine IL-2 gene electrotransfer (GET) peritumorally and IL-12 intramuscularly in inoperable canine oral malignant melanoma. The results showed that ECT+GET using IL-2 and IL-12 significantly improved progression-free survival in advanced stages of canine oral malignant melanoma.
Article
Immunology
Ursa Kesar, Bostjan Markelc, Tanja Jesenko, Katja Ursic Valentinuzzi, Maja Cemazar, Primoz Strojan, Gregor Sersa
Summary: Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a clinically acknowledged method that combines the use of anticancer drugs and electrical pulses. It has been found that ECT can induce immunogenic cell death (ICD) in certain situations. However, the universality of this effect across different cancer types and other clinically relevant chemotherapeutics used with ECT remains unknown.
Article
Immunology
Ursa Lampreht Tratar, Nina Milevoj, Maja Cemazar, Katarina Znidar, Katja Ursic Valentinuzzi, Andreja Brozic, Katerina Tomsic, Gregor Sersa, Natasa Tozon
Summary: This study compared the intratumoral (i.t.) and peritumoral (peri.t.) routes of interleukin-12 (IL-12) gene electrotransfer (GET) in combination with electrochemotherapy (ECT). The results showed that intratumoral administration had better treatment outcomes, with significantly improved local tumor control, longer disease-free interval, and progression-free survival compared to the other routes.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Gregor Vivod, Tanja Jesenko, Gorana Gasljevic, Nina Kovacevic, Masa Bosnjak, Gregor Sersa, Sebastjan Merlo, Maja Cemazar
Summary: Electrochemotherapy is a effective treatment for vulvar cancer, but some tumors do not respond to it. This study suggests that the vascularity of the tumor prior to treatment may predict the response to electrochemotherapy.
RADIOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Katarina Markovi, Maja Cemazar, Gregor Sersa, Radmila Milacic, Janez Scancar
Summary: In this study, a conjoint liquid chromatography method was used to separate different forms of copper in serum, and the separated copper species were quantified using mass spectrometry and UV detection. The method showed high sensitivity and good repeatability, and can be applied for copper determination in different populations.
JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL ATOMIC SPECTROMETRY
(2022)