Properties of tissue within prostate tumors and treatment planning implications for ablation therapies

Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2021 Nov:2021:1539-1542. doi: 10.1109/EMBC46164.2021.9630534.

Abstract

Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a promising alternative therapy for the local treatment of prostate tumors. The procedure involves the direct insertion of needle electrodes into the target zone, and subsequent delivery of short but high-voltage pulses. Successful outcomes rely on adequate exposure of the tumor to a threshold electrical field. To aid in predicting this exposure, computational models have been developed, yet often do not incorporate the appropriate tissue-specific properties. This work aims to quantify electrical conductivity behavior during IRE for three types of tissue present in the target area of a prostate cancer ablation: the tumor tissue itself, the surrounding healthy tissue, and potential areas of necrosis within the tumor. Animal tissues were used as a stand-in for primary samples. The patient-derived prostate tumor tissue showed very similar responses to healthy porcine prostate tissue. An examination of necrotic tissue inside the tumors revealed a large difference, however, and a computational model showed that a necrotic core with differing electrical properties can cause unexpected inhomogeneities within the treatment region.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Electric Conductivity
  • Electrodes
  • Electroporation*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prostate / surgery
  • Prostatic Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Swine