Algorithm-guided electrical treatment for hard-to-remove liver and pancreatic tumors
Academic-Industrial Partnership to Develop Clinical Tools for Algorithmic Irreversible Electroporation of Inoperable Tumors
A new device that uses programmed electrical pulses to destroy liver or pancreatic tumors that cannot be removed by surgery is being developed for patients with inoperable tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Carolina State University Raleigh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Raleigh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11191375 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I had a liver or pancreatic tumor that could not be removed, this project is building a clinical device that uses short, controlled electrical pulses to kill tumor cells. The team will create the machine and single-use applicators, then test and fine-tune them in pig livers to show the device works safely. After that, they will use the system to treat a group of canine liver cancer patients at North Carolina State to gather real treatment data before moving toward human regulatory steps. Successful animal and veterinary testing is meant to support future human trials and regulatory clearance.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with liver or pancreatic tumors located deep in the organ or near vital structures who are not eligible for surgical removal.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors can be fully removed by standard surgery, or whose cancer is widely spread and not localized to treatable lesions, are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer a new minimally invasive option to shrink or destroy tumors that can't be removed by surgery.
How similar studies have performed: This approach has shown promise in laboratory tests, small animal models, and in over 80 veterinary clinical cases, but human use remains to be demonstrated.
Where this research is happening
Raleigh, United States
- North Carolina State University Raleigh — Raleigh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sano, Michael Benjamin — North Carolina State University Raleigh
- Study coordinator: Sano, Michael Benjamin
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.