Electric field effects in tumors: in vitro and in silico modeling

COLOMBO LUCAS; DENGRA SILVINA; FERNÁNDEZ SLEZAK DIEGO; GONZÁLEZ GRACIELA; MARSHALL GUILLERMO; MOCSKOS ESTEBAN; MOLINA FERNANDO; OLAIZ NAHUEL; RISK MARCELO; SOBA ALEJANDRO; SUÁREZ CECILIA; TURJANSKI PABLO

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Simposio; Proceedings of International Symposium on Electrohydrodynamics (ISEHD); 2006

Executive IEEE Deis EHD Technical Committee

The electrochemical treatment (EChT) of tumors consists in the passage of a direct electric current through electrodes inserted locally in the tissue, which causes its necrosis. The extreme pH changes induced had been proposed as the main tumor destruction mechanism. Here we study ion transport during the EChT through in vitro modeling with agar andcollagen gels, and in silico or numerical modeling using the one-dimensional Nernst-Planck and Poisson equations describingion transport in a four-ion electrolyte under constant currentconditions. Experiments and simulations reveal that, underEChT modeling, an initial condition with almost neutral pHconcentration becomes extremely alkaline and acid at the cathodeand anode, respectively, and from there the pH concentrationrapidly turns to its neutral values into the periphery. The pH front tracking scales in time close to t1/2, indicating a diffusion-controlled process. These results could have significant implications in a future design of optimal operative conditions and dose planning of EChT therapy.