Nanosecond pulsed electric fields cause melanomas to self-destruct

摘要

Methods for a new, drug-free therapy for treating solid skin tumors through the application of nanosecond pulsed electric fields (“nsPEFs”) are provided. In one embodiment of the invention, the cells are melanoma cells, and the applied nsPEFs penetrate into the interior of tumor cells and cause tumor cell nuclei to rapidly shrink and tumor blood flow to stop. This new technique provides a highly localized targeting of tumor cells with only minor effects on overlying skin.

主权项

1. A method for selectively initiating apoptosis in melanoma cells in a tissue comprising:
coating a skin tissue overlying melanoma cells with a composition that reduces flashover during pulse field application; and applying at least 100 nsPEFs to said tissue comprising melanoma cells, wherein each nsPEF has a pulse duration of at least about 10 nanoseconds and no more than about 1 microsecond and an electric field pulse strength of at least about 20 kV/cm and no more than about 350 kV/cm.