Precision cancer therapy device delivers chemo in an Australian first

MedTech News: A precision therapy platform that targets tumour tissue whilst preserving surrounding healthy tissue structure has proven to be a safe and cost effective technique in improving the experience of cancer patients. 

In an Australian first, a Peter MacCullum Cancer Centre patient had his melanoma ‘zapped’ with non-toxic, high frequency pulsed electrical pulses, helping to deliver chemotherapy deep inside cancer cells.

During the ePORE electroporation procedure on Friday morning, chemotherapy was injected directly into the tumour on the patient’s head, followed by small electrical pulses delivered by a device called the CUTIS electrode that looks like a large pen. 

“The electrical pulses make temporary holes in the cell membrane, allowing the drug to penetrate deep inside before the membrane seals off,” Dr Hayden Snow, who undertook the procedure, said. 

“With the chemo inside the cancer cells, they then hopefully start to die back and the tumour will start to shrink over the coming weeks. It’s possible that a single dose is all that’s needed to kill the tumour, but additional treatments can be delivered in the future if required.”

The 20-minute electroporation procedure, done under a local anaesthetic, is a possible alternative to surgery – which would require multiple wounds and skin grafts – and radiation therapy, which would see daily treatments over a number of weeks. 

It also delivers the chemotherapy locally, directly to the tumour, rather than it being delivered in a conventional way that affects the whole body. The patient will likely be left with only a small amount of scar tissue – a far less visible reminder of the cancer versus surgery with a skin graft. 

“It’s really exciting to be able to deliver such targeted treatment with minimal impact on the patient – he can head home today and will need very little down time,” Dr Snow added.  

Dr Snow was assisted during the procedure by Professor Jim Clover, a consultant plastic surgeon from Cork University Hospital, who is in Australia for the launch of the treatment machine at the Australasian Melanoma Conference on 24 – 25 March.

He has seen promising results treating skin cancer cancers in Europe with the technology over the past few years.

“Broad figures are that we would expect four-out-of-five lesions treated to respond, with three-out-of-five responding completely,” Professor Clover said.

“When you compare that to some of the other treatments that are available, they have effectiveness rates of probably half of that. So for targeted areas it’s a really powerful tool. And the key thing is to have the biggest toolbox possible when treating skin cancer.”

MedTech company Endotherapeutics has brought the medical technology, developed by Mirai Medical, to Australia and hopes it will “add to the current standard of care” and improve patient experience.

ePORE is registered and approved for commercialisation in Australia, European Union and United Kingdom.

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