Breast Surgeon In Baner Wakad PCMC :

Dr. Vinod Gore performed the first ElectroChemoTherapy (ECT) procedure in India at the Sahyadri Hospital, Karve Road, Pune. He has been using this technique since the past one year plus, with a very good rate of success.
ECT is Enhanced Chemotherapy. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a combination of electroporation amd chemotherapy. Electroporation uses electric impulses to create nano pores in cell membrane of cancer cells (tumour cells). Induction lines emerging from electric impulses get focused on cancer cells due to the dielectric properties of these cells. Electroporation thus, does not affect healthy cells.
Pores increase cell-membrane permiability. This allows easy diffusion of Chemotherapeutic drug into the cancer cells.
It is a method for opening the wall of the cancer cell and allowing the chemo agent to enter the cell. This is achieved by subjecting the tissue to a series of high voltage electrical pulses.

Electrochemotherapy for Local Tumour Control :

1.Day Procedure. Takes 20 – 30 Minutes.
2. No major adverse side effects.
Electrochemotherapy is a therapeutic procedure for treating cutaneous tumours via electroporation using certified electrodes. The electroporation process is combined with local chemotherapy.

What is Electrochemotherapy ?

Electrochemotherapy is a new and efficient method to deliver chemotherapy to cancer tumours. In this therapy, small electric impulses are given at the site of the tumour; hence the name ‘Electro-Chemotherapy’.

Which type of cancer tumours can be treated by Electrochemotherapy ?

Electrochemotherapy (ECT) treats cutaneous and subcutaneous tumours, i.e. tumours which are close to the skin. The therapy works for tumours which are up to 15 to 20 mm deep from the outer layer of the skin.

Cancer tumours treated by ECT: ?

How does it work ? What does it achieve ?

Chemotherapy medicine is injected either through I.V. or locally at the tumour site. After that, quick electric impulses are given at the tumour site with the help of the device. The electric impulses create very small pores in the cell membrane of the tumour cells. These pores are temporary in nature. Pores help the medicine to penetrate into the tumour cells. When electric impulses stop, the pores close and the medicine gets trapped inside the cell.
Once inside a cancer cell, the medicine destroys DNA of the cell. As a result, the tumour gets controlled i.e. it either disappears totally or reduces in size. This treatment also helps to stop/reduce oozing and bleeding from the tumour. It helps to reduce pain, thus giving great relief to the patient. It improves the appearance of the tumour. This results in better quality of life for the patient. Social interaction also becomes easier.
Additionally, the pores open the gates for matter inside the cancer cell to come out. This activates body’s immune system to act against cancer.

Where is this procedure done ? Is it painful ?

ECT can be done in a ‘Minor Operation Theatre’ or a ‘Treatment Room’. It is normally done under local anaesthesia. Only in case of large tumours general anaesthesia may be required. The patient may be sedated if thought necessary.
Local anaesthesia ensures that the patient does not feel any pain during the procedure. Post the procedure, there may be minor pain which is easily controlled with routine painkillers.

How long does the treatment take ?

One session of ECT requires 20 to 30 minutes. It takes 2 to 4 weeks for the results to be seen. Things can keep improving even after that. In case of tumours which are visible from the outside, drying and healing process of the tumour can be seen. One can notice the reduction in size or total disappearance of the tumour.
Patients are required to come for a few follow-up visits. This procedure can be repeated if the doctor finds it necessary to do so.

Are there any side-effects ?

Are there any side-effects ? Very small dosage of chemotherapy medicine is used in ECT compared to systemic chemotherapy (usual chemotherapy). Due to this, drug side-effects are negligible. The treatment method too has no major side-effects.

How effective is it ?

Electrochemotherapy has been systematically examined in Europe. In a study conducted, a total of 1009 nodules in 247 patients were treated via ECT method. In accordance with objective criteria, the therapy was successful in an average of 80% of the treated cases responding to treatment. The response rate was 73.7%.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy (often abbreviated to chemo and sometimes CTX or CTx) is a category of cancer treatment that uses chemical substances, especially one or more anti-cancer drugs (chemotherapeutic agents) that are given as part of a standardized chemotherapy regimen. Chemotherapy may be given with a curative intent, or it may aim to prolong life or to reduce symptoms (palliative chemotherapy). Along with hormonal therapy and targeted therapy, it is one of the major categories of medical oncology (pharmacotherapy for cancer). These modalities are often used in conjunction with other cancer treatments, such as radiation therapy, surgery, and/or hyperthermia therapy. Some chemotherapy drugs are also used to treat other conditions, including AL amyloidosis, ankylosing spondylitis, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and scleroderma.
Traditional chemotherapeutic agents are cytotoxic, that is to say they act by killing cells that divide rapidly, one of the main properties of most cancer cells. This means that chemotherapy also harms cells that divide rapidly under normal circumstances: cells in the bone marrow, digestive tract, and hair follicles.

The most common side-effects of chemotherapy: