Application of Pulsed Electric Fields in Cancer Therapy
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Oncology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2026 | Viewed by 245
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Pulsed electric field (PEF) technologies represent an emerging nonthermal and minimally invasive physical modality for cancer treatment, extensively investigated in both preclinical models and clinical trials. Various PEF generation and delivery systems have been developed to target tumors through different mechanisms. PEFs with micro- to millisecond pulse durations at lower field strengths can induce reversible electroporation, facilitating drug and gene delivery, while microsecond PEFs at higher intensities can cause irreversible electroporation (IRE) to ablate tumors directly.
In contrast, nanosecond PEFs (nsPEFs) can penetrate intracellular organelles, modulating cellular bioelectricity and functions—ranging from stimulation and suppression to damage or death, depending on pulse parameters. When applied in vivo, PEFs can also influence the tumor microenvironment, including vascular and immune cell responses, further affecting tumor progression. Moreover, PEF-based approaches can be readily combined with standard cancer therapies to enhance treatment efficacy.
This Special Issue welcomes original research articles, short communications, and comprehensive reviews that advance understanding of PEF technologies in cancer therapy, including mechanistic insights, technological innovations, combinational strategies, and translational or clinical studies.
Dr. Siqi Guo
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- pulsed electric fields
- cancer therapy
- ablation
- minimally invasive
- tumor microenvironment
- combination therapy
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