Electrochemotherapy: From basics to new clinical applications
Reversible electropermeabilisation of cells in tissues is reached by the delivery of moderately intense short electric pulses and allows the vectorization of certain categories of drugs. The concept raised in oncology as Antitumor ElectroChemoTherapy (ECT) proved its feasibility, its applicability to almost all the solid tumors, and its high value and interest in the treatment of delicate situations such as the bone marrow compressing metastases. The same concept (Bleomycin-transfer aided by appropriate electric pulses) successfully applies for the treatment of vascular anomalies (VA) by Bleomycin ElectroScléroTherapy (BEST) and Bleomycin ElectroEmbolizationTherapy (BEET).
This CIRSE webinar will provide the concept and scientific bases of these various treatments (ECT, BEST, BEET). These various approaches are based on the same concept, use the same tools (electric pulses in combination with bleomycin), and benefit from the same primary and secondary effects of the tools used. Experts will present their experience and guidelines for the correct delivery of the electric pulses, the administration routes of the bleomycin, and the timelines to be respected. Attendees will also have the opportunity to interact with leading faculty during a discussion period at the end of the webinar.
Learning objectives
- To understand the interest of the reversible electroporation as a drug delivery approach.
- In particular, to understand the bases and interest of the combination of reversible electroporation and the cytotoxic drug bleomycin, both in vitro and in vivo.
- To learn how and when to apply this combination for the treatment of vascular abnormalities: BEST (Bleomycin ElectroScleroTherapy) and BEET (Bleomycin ElectroEmbolizationTherapy).
- To become familiar with the use of this combination in oncology: ECT
- for the percutaneous treatment of tumor nodules in the liver and pancreas
- for the treatment of musculoskeletal tumor nodules
- for the treatment of spine cord compressing vertebral metastases.
- To become familiar with the use of this combination for the percutaneous treatment of vascular anomalies: BEST and BEET
- for the treatment of low flow VA (BEST)
- for the treatment of high flow VA (BEET).
Programme
Introduction by the moderators
Basics of the reversible electroporation and its use as a drug delivery approach
Reversible electropermeabilization for the treatment of slow and fast flow vascular malformations
Electrochemotherapy for the treatment of liver/internal metastases
Electrochemotherapy for the treatment of musculo-skeletal metastases
Electrochemotherapy for the treatment of bone marrow compressing vertebral metastases
Discussion and Q&A
Faculty
Moderators
Frederic Deschamps (Villejuif/FR)
Lluis M. Mir (Villejuif/FR)
Speakers
Frederic Deschamps (Villejuif/FR)
Lluis M. Mir (Villejuif/FR)
Walter Wohlgemuth (Halle/DE)
Attila Kovács (Bonn/DE)
CME Accreditation
The CIRSE Webinar “Electrochemotherapy: From basics to new clinical applications”, Vienna (ONLINE), Austria, on April 16, 2026 has been accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME®) with 1.5 European CME credits (ECMEC®s). Each medical specialist should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.
The accreditation is valid for the live event, as well as the on-demand content for a period of 6 months after the live webinar. Click here to learn more.
Join free of charge!
Access to this webinar is available free of charge to all interested parties. All you need is your CIRSE login details. Don’t have a CIRSE account yet? Not to worry! It only takes two minutes to set up a new account which will enable you to register.