Electrochemical Treatment of Breast Cancer with Direct Current.

Abstract

Electrochemical treatment (ECT) of cancer is a promising new method which delivers direct current (dc) into tumor tissue by inserting electrodes (anodes and/or cathodes) to induce tumor regression. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of ECT and tissue responses to anode and cathode. Methods: (I) Tumor tissue responses to ECT: 1 x 10 rat breast cancer cells (MTF-7) were injected subcutaneously into the right fat pad of the mammary gland of a Fisher 344 female rat. While the tumors were grown to 2 x 2 >c 2 cm, 60 rats were divided into 6 groups and underwent ECT with doses of 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 coulombs (C), respectively (9) in each group except 12 in 5 and 10 C groups). Two platinum electrodes were inserted at a 1-cm spacing into the tumor. Three tumor samples in each group were removed at 0, 24, and /18 hrs post-treatment for light microscopy and at 0 hour for electron microscopy. (2) Normal muscle tissue response to ECT: 9 Fisher 3/14 female rats were divided into 3 groups: anode, cathode, and both% anode and cathode insertion in right thigh muscle (3 in each group) with 10 C applied. results: There are distinct changes to the cellular structure of the treated tumors. The changes ranged from blurred to completed loss of cellular outlines. An abrupt transition from treated tumor to viable tumor indicated that there is a definite effective treatment area, based upon the close applied. The area adjacent to the cathode exhibited minor swelling, while dehydration ",as observed around the anode. Also, We observed disruption in the treated muscle tissue, either with cathode, anode, or both. Conclusions: (I) ECT is effective for cellular disruption of the acted tissue; (2) both anode and cathode can damage and destroy cell structures; (3) The effects of ECT are nonspecific.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1998
Accession Number
ADA341307

Entities

People

  • Chung-kwang Clou

Organizations

  • City of Hope National Medical Center

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Breast Cancer
  • Cell Structure
  • Cells
  • Cellular Structures
  • Direct Current
  • Electric Current
  • Electrodes
  • Electron Microscopes
  • Electron Microscopy
  • Electrons
  • Health Services
  • Mammary Glands
  • Materials
  • Medical Personnel
  • Microscopy
  • Neoplasms

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Electrochemical Engineering/ Fuel Cell Technologies
  • Mathematics or Statistics
  • Oncology

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster