Electrochemotherapy in the treatment of neoplasms in dogs and cats

Abstract

Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a technique that combines chemotherapy with local application of specific electric pulses with the aim of increasing the permeability of the plasma membrane in a reversible way, improving the influx of chemotherapeutic drugs into the cytoplasm and potentiating their cytotoxic effects. This technique has broadened the range of possible treatments for oncological patients, either on its own or as adjuvant to surgical procedures. It is especially useful in tumors located in regions with only a small surgical safety margin, such as the limb extremities, skull, oral cavity, neck and perianal region, among others. ECT makes it feasible to perform procedures more conservatively, or even to perform otherwise infeasible procedures, by expanding the margins without removing healthy tissues. The objective of this paper is to provide a brief bibliographic review of the principles, applications and future possibilities of electrochemotherapy, helping to disseminate pertinent information about this relatively new technique for the treatment of cancer.