1. Invasive properties of patient-derived glioblastoma cells after reversible electroporation in vitroAnja Blažič, Bernarda Majc, Metka Novak, Barbara Breznik, Lea Rems, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Background. Electroporation-based therapies are being explored in glioblastoma (GB) treatment, as means of enhancing drug delivery or achieving nonthermal ablation. Yet, little is known about how sublethal exposure affects the invasive behaviour of GB tumour cells. Materials and methods. Five patient-derived GB cell lines were initially screened for intrinsic invasive potential, and two most invasive (NIB140 CORE and NIB216 CORE) were selected for further experiments with electroporation treatment. Cells in suspension were exposed to bursts of high-frequency biphasic electric pulses resulting in electric field strength of 1 kV/cm, which corresponded to conditions of reversible electroporation. Changes in cell invasion and gene regulation were assessed 24 hours after electroporation using transwell assay and RNA transcriptome analysis, respectively. Results. Reversible electroporation at 1.0 kV/cm enhanced invasion in a cell line-dependent manner. NIB140 CORE showed a consistent and pronounced increase, with a median of 3.74-fold (274%) higher number of invading cells compared to sham control. In contrast, NIB216 CORE exhibited only a modest increase in invasion (1.30-fold; 30%). Transcriptomic profiling identified modulation of genes linked to extracellular matrix organization and ion channel activity in NIB140 CORE, and cytoskeletal remodelling in NIB216 CORE, indicating the activation of invasion-related pathways. Conclusions. These findings highlight a potential risk of pro-invasive responses in GB cells. In tumour ablation with irreversible electroporation, this concern relates to cells in the peripheral zone that may experience only sublethal electric fields, while in electrochemotherapy, a similar risk may arise if permeabilized cells are not effectively eliminated due to insufficient local drug delivery. Nevertheless, the two tested cell lines responded differently, underscoring patientspecific heterogeneity and the need for validation in more physiologically relevant models.
Keywords: electroporation, high-frequency electric pulses, glioblastoma, patient-derived cells, invasion
Published in DiRROS: 17.06.2026; Views: 11; Downloads: 12
 Full text (2,33 MB)
This document has many files! More... |
2. Intraoperative electrochemotherapy of the posterior resection surface after pancreaticoduodenectomy : preliminary results of a hybrid approach treatment of pancreatic cancerŽan Čebron, Mihajlo Djokić, Miha Petrič, Maja Čemažar, Maša Omerzel, Gregor Serša, Blaž Trotovšek, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Despite extensive research in recent decades, pancreatic cancer continues to be among the most lethal forms of cancer, with no substantial increase in survival rates. Local recurrences account for approximately 30 per cent of all disease recurrences. With the intent to improve survival, we designed a novel, hybrid treatment strategy consisting of surgical resection and additional intraoperative electrochemotherapy of the posterior resection surface. We present the study protocols and preliminary findings of a prospective pilot study investigating this treatment approach. Methods Consenting patients with resectable pancreatic head ductal adenocarcinoma who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. After surgical resection, electrochemotherapy with bleomycin was performed using plate electrodes to cover the area between anatomical landmarks. Results Electrochemotherapy of the posterior resection surface was feasible in all 7 patients. We observed pancreatic fistula grade B in only one patient; all other noted complications were Clavien-Dindo grade 2 or less. The hospital mortality was 0%. Conclusions Our preliminary results suggest that a hybrid approach combining surgery with intraoperative electrochemotherapy is safe and feasible.
Keywords: pancreatic cancer, intraoperative electrochemotherapy, electroporation
Published in DiRROS: 04.06.2026; Views: 77; Downloads: 50
Full text (4,65 MB)
This document has many files! More... |
3. Electrochemotherapy with bleomycin, oxaliplatin, or cisplatin in mouse tumor models, from tumor ablation to in situ vaccinationKatja Uršič Valentinuzzi, Urška Kamenšek, Simona Kranjc Brezar, Chloe Heranney, Tilen Komel, Simon Buček, Maja Čemažar, Gregor Serša, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Introduction: In addition to its direct cytotoxic effects, ablative therapies as electrochemotherapy (ECT) can elicit indirect antitumor effects by triggering immune system responses. Here, we comprehensively analyzed this dual effectiveness of intratumoral ECT with chemotherapeutic drugs bleomycin (BLM), oxaliplatin (OXA), and cisplatin (CDDP). Our aim was to determine if ECT can act as in situ vaccination and thereby induce an abscopal effect. By evaluating ECT’s potential for in situ vaccination, our goal was to pave the way for future advancements for its combination with emerging (immuno)therapies, leading to enhanced responses and outcomes. Methods: We employed two mouse tumor models, the immunologically cold B16F10 melanoma and 4T1 mammary carcinoma, to explore both local and systemic (i.e., abscopal) antitumor effects following equieffective intratumoral ECT with BLM, OXA, and CDDP. Through histological analyses and the use of immunodeficient and metastatic (for abscopal effect) mouse models, we identified and compared both the cytotoxic and immunological components of ECT’s antitumor efficiency, such as immunologically recognizable cell deaths (immunogenic cell death and necrosis) and immune infiltrate (CD11+, CD4+, CD8+, GrB+). Results: Differences in immunological involvement after equieffective intratumoral ECT were highlighted by variable kinetics of immunologically recognizable cell deaths and immune infiltrate across the studied tumor models. Particularly, the 4T1 tumor model exhibited a more pronounced involvement of the immune component compared to the B16F10 tumor model. Variances in the antitumor (immune) response were also detected based on the chemotherapeutic drug used in ECT. Collectively, ECT demonstrated effectiveness in inducing in situ vaccination in both tumor models; however, an abscopal effect was observed in the 4T1 tumor model only. Conclusions: This is the first preclinical study systematically comparing the immune involvement in intratumoral ECT’s efficiency using three distinct chemotherapeutic drugs in mouse tumor models. The demonstrated variability in immune response to ECT across different tumor models and chemotherapeutic drugs provides a basis for future investigations aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of combined treatments.
Keywords: electroporation, chemotherapeutic drugs, mouse tumor models
Published in DiRROS: 19.11.2025; Views: 562; Downloads: 296
Full text (18,91 MB)
This document has many files! More... |
4. Nanosecond electric pulses are equally effective in electrochemotherapy with cisplatin as microsecond pulsesAngelika Vižintin, Stefan Marković, Janez Ščančar, Jerneja Kladnik, Iztok Turel, Damijan Miklavčič, 2022, original scientific article Keywords: electroporation, electrochemotherapy, nanosecond pulses, cisplatin
Published in DiRROS: 25.07.2024; Views: 1077; Downloads: 775
Full text (915,51 KB)
This document has many files! More... |
5. |
6. The use of high-frequency short bipolar pulses in cisplatin electrochemotherapy in vitroMaria Scuderi, Matej Reberšek, Damijan Miklavčič, Janja Dermol-Černe, 2019, original scientific article Keywords: electroporation, electrochemotherapy, high-frequency bipolar pulses, cisplatin, cell survival, drug uptake
Published in DiRROS: 09.07.2024; Views: 1241; Downloads: 704
Full text (405,37 KB)
This document has many files! More... |
7. A statistical model describing combined irreversible electroporation and electroporation-induced blood-brain barrier disruptionShirley Sharabi, Bor Kos, David Last, David Guez, Dianne Daniels, Sagi Harnof, Yael Mardor, Damijan Miklavčič, 2016, original scientific article Keywords: electroporation, blood brain barrier, Peleg-Fermi
Published in DiRROS: 09.05.2024; Views: 1240; Downloads: 786
Full text (721,66 KB)
This document has many files! More... |
8. Electrochemotherapy by pulsed electromagnetic field treatment (PEMF) in mouse melanoma B16F10 in vivoSimona Kranjc Brezar, Matej Kranjc, Janez Ščančar, Jure Jelenc, Gregor Serša, Damijan Miklavčič, 2016, original scientific article Keywords: pulsed electromagnetic field, bipolar pulses, contactless electroporation, CDDP, electrochemotherapy, mouse melanoma
Published in DiRROS: 09.05.2024; Views: 1708; Downloads: 907
Full text (721,66 KB)
This document has many files! More... |
9. |
10. Segmentation of hepatic vessels from MRI images for planning of electroporation-based treatments in the liverMarija Marčan, Denis Pavliha, Maja Marolt-Mušič, Igor Fučkan, Ratko Magjarević, Damijan Miklavčič, 2014, original scientific article Keywords: electrochemotherapy, non-thermal irreversible electroporation, treatment planning, hepatic vessel segmentation, non-invasive tumor treatments, MRI of liver
Published in DiRROS: 16.04.2024; Views: 1503; Downloads: 766
Full text (945,02 KB)
This document has many files! More... |
