Electrical treatment of Lewis lung carcinoma in mice.

Direct electrical current of sufficient magnitude and duration can destroy tissue. This capability may be clinically useful in some cases involving inoperable metastatic lesions. In principle, a tumor could be treated with direct current administered via a percutaneous electrode insulated along its entire length except for the portion actually inserted into the tumor. An animal model was developed to study the effect of direct electrical current on tumor growth. The growth of implanted Lewis lung carcinoma in mice was inhibited following the administration of 2 mA for 1 hr, 1-3 treatments. The effect occurred in both small and large tumors. The results suggest that the electrical technique is potentially useful for treating some tumors.