27 Jan 2011 - EndoVe: New Medical Device to Target Cancer Tumours

The results of the first clinical trial of a new endoscopic device, developed at the Cork Cancer Research Centre in UCC, have been revealed October 28, 2010 at a seminar in Dublin. The device allows chemotherapeutic drugs to be delivered in a localised way for colorectal tumours, including currently inoperable ones.

"The first clinical trial of our patented device, called EndoVe, involving a patient with inoperable colorectal cancer has been successful in eliminating the tumour," says Dr. Declan Soden, Cork Cancer Research Centre.

"The device used with Cliniporator, the platform technology for electroporation, makes the tumour tissue porous, allowing the tumour absorbs chemotherapy drugs more efficiently, so less of the chemotherapy drug is used." explains Dr Soden. "This means ease of treatment and minimal side-effects for the patient. And because the chemotherapy drugs are only absorbed in the area treated by the electrical field, it results in lower drug concentrations and potentially shorter stays in hospital. This reduces costs significantly for the health care provider," he adds.

"It offers great hope for patients who would be unable to tolerate the normal standard of care such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and has strong potential to significantly improve the way we treat internal cancers."

"The EndoVe was developed based on experience we had using Electrochemotherapy to successfully treat patients with skin based tumours, which had an 85% positive response in terms of tumour elimination. Based on these successful findings, we designed the EndoVe device to provide an effective internal treatment that is also low in toxicity and invasiveness leading to less disruption to non-target tissues and organs,' he says. "We are delighted to be able to report the first results in of our Phase 1 clinical trial.

Commenting on the new technology, Mary Harney, Irish Minister for Health and Children says; "This new device has tremendous potential to tackle tumours, reduce side-effects and improve patient quality of life. It is a great example of how innovation can make a difference to patients".