Collection of ENEA technology and expertise
System for personalized tumor treatment using pulsed electric fields in combination with ionizing radiations
Our research group has demonstrated that the combined action of ultrashort electric pulses lasting a few microseconds, together with ionizing radiation, is effective in eradicating cancer stem cells, which are considered responsible for tumor onset and recurrence (ENEA patent No. 892). Optimizing the electrical protocol and timing the administration of X-rays are essential to maximize therapeutic effects and minimize side effects, paving the way for a new personalized cancer therapy.
Rational of the new combined application of microsecond pulsed electric field and ionizing radiations
Application sectors
Problem to solve
Among effective therapies for cancer treatment, we find the use of intense and ultra-short duration (microseconds) electrical pulses in combination with chemotherapy. This clinical therapy, known as electrochemotherapy (ECT), exploits the permeabilization of tumor cell membranes due to the action of the electric field to facilitate the entry of chemotherapy and thus eradicate the tumor. In addition to ECT, our research group demonstrated that the combined action of electrical pulses of similar duration in combination with ionizing radiations is effective in eradicating tumor stem cells considered responsible for tumor onset and recurrence (ENEA patent no. 892). Optimizing the electrical protocol and planning the timing for the administration of X-rays are essential to maximize therapeutic effects and minimize side effects in a potential new personalized cancer therapy.
Description
Our patent has revealed the potential of ultra-short electrical pulses to selectively target tumor stem cells by altering their physiology and making them more sensitive to subsequent doses of ionizing radiation. This combination represents a promising therapeutic alternative. Concurrently, an automated method (based on AI) for the application of electrical pulses and subsequent doses of ionizing radiation is being developed, suitable for different types of tumors, making it practical and efficient for clinical use through the creation of a multiparametric database for various sensitive treatment parameters.
Innovative aspects and advantages
- Enabling possible personalization of the treatment
- Improving the therapeutic efficacy of cancer treatments
- Lower costs and ease of use
- Reducing side effects associated with the use of ionizing radiations
Technological Maturity 4-5
Strengths
- Cost
- Social/economic relevance
- Legal/regulatory content
- Efficiency/productivity/performance
- Innovation
- Lack of technology/solution for the specific task
- Scalability
- Ease of use
- Transferability/mobility
- Processing/feed-back times
Admissible applications
- Applications also with other standard oncology therapies (e.g., chemotherapy and immunotherapy)
- Applications in combined cancer therapies using electric pulses and ionizing radiation with reduced dosage
- Applications in the biomedical field (hardware and software)
Research group involved
Patent Available for Licensing
Disponibile per una licenza esclusiva
Revision date
16-06-2025
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