Optimal Voltage and Electrical Pulse Conditions for Electrical Ablation to Induce Immunogenic Cell Death (ICD)

Electrical ablation (EA) is a non-thermal ablation technique that causes less damage to the tissue surrounding the targeted area than conventional thermal ablation. EA induces immunogenic cell death (ICD) and can potentially synergize with cancer immunotherapy. In this study, the optimal voltage and pulse conditions for the induction of ICD were identified. Finite element analysis was used to estimate the ablation zone under a variety of voltage and pulse conditions. Cancer cells were cultured in vitro under two- and three-dimensional conditions to assess cell viability under different voltage and pulse conditions. Additionally, the expression of damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) markers of ICD was measured to identify an optimal voltage condition. Tumor volume, body weight, and survival after EA treatment were measured in vivo to identify the optimal pulse conditions. The optimal conditions to induce ICD by EA identified in this study are suitable to be combined with cancer immunotherapy. (c) 2020 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.