Liver cancer is the fifth most common malignant tumor in the world. The tumor can be removed through surgery or by utilizing thermal ablation techniques. If a treatment with conservative methods is no longer possible, there is an alternative: irreversible electroporation (IRE). The effectiveness of this method was now confirmed by a clinical study.
In this interview with MEDICA-tradefair.com, Dr. Philipp Wiggermann, who is responsible for the study discusses the results of the clinical trial, explains when IRE is used and what a future application will look like.
Dr. Wiggermann, what exactly is irreversible electroporation (IRE)? What happens in this case?
Dr. Philipp Wiggermann: IRE uses strong electromagnetic fields to disintegrate cell membranes. Cells are damaged when cell membranes are exposed to a strong magnetic field, causing nano-scale pores in the membrane. Usually, the cell is able to repair itself. This is the goal of reversible electroporation. However, if this method is used to generate too many pores, the cells are unable to self-repair and die. This is cell death by apoptosis and not necrosis. That is the fundamental difference between this method and other procedures. ...
Read the complete interview with Dr. Philipp Wiggermann at MEDICA-tradefair.com!