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

L. COLOMBO, S. DENGRA, D. FERNANDEZ SLEZAK, G. GONZALEZ, G. MARSHALL, E. MOCSKOS, F. V. MOLINA, N. OLAIZ, M. RISK, A. SOBA, C. SUAREZ AND P. TURJANSKI

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Simposio; 2006 International Symposium on Electrohydrodynamics; 2006

IEEE

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 and collagen gels, and in silico or numerical modeling using the one-dimensional Nernst-Planck and Poisson equations describing ion transport in a four-ion electrolyte under constant current conditions. Experiments and simulations reveal that, under EChT modeling, an initial condition with almost neutral pH concentration becomes extremely alkaline and acid at the cathode and anode, respectively, and from there the pH concentration rapidly turns to its neutral values into the periphery. The pH front tracking scales in time close to t^(1/2), 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.