Australian experts are trialling a new cancer treatment that uses electric pulses to zap tumour cells, saying the technique could revolutionise the fight against cancer.
Radiologists at Melbourne's The Alfred hospital in Melbourne say Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) has the potential to provide an alternative to surgery or radiotherapy.
The technique involves using a device called an IRE-Nanoknife to accurately place fine needle electrodes in or around the tumour, which is then targeted with short intense electric pulses.
The treatment - developed in the United States and already used to treat prostate cancer - creates microscopic holes in the wall of the tumour cells, causing the cells to die before they are removed by the body.
"This is the ultimate in radiologically guided microsurgery and appears to have minimal risk or impact to the body," Ken Thomson, The Alfred's Professor of Radiology, said.
"Traditionally there has been a variety of methods used to destroy tumours, most of which cause damage to nearby healthy tissue. This technique does not affect the surrounding supportive tissues or nearby nerves and blood vessels," Prof Thomson said in a statement.
Experts say more than 100 patients a year are likely to be eligible for IRE treatment at The Alfred.
