Cell-reshaping pretreatment that boosts H-FIRE tumor
This technology improves a cancer-killing electrical treatment called high-frequency irreversible electroporation (H-FIRE), which destroys tumor cells using precisely tuned electrical pulses without damaging surrounding tissue. The innovation is a preparatory step: before applying the electrical pulses, a specific protein signal (an EphA2 receptor ligand) is administered to cancer cells, causing them to shrink their cytoplasm and effectively become more vulnerable to the electrical treatment. Because the nucleus takes up a larger proportion of the shrunken cell, the electrical field has a more lethal effect on the target cells at lower or more selective doses. This approach could allow clinicians to kill tumors more effectively while reducing collateral damage to healthy tissue.
What you could build
A combination therapeutic protocol—pairing an injectable EphA2-targeting biologic with an H-FIRE ablation device—sold to interventional oncology centers for treating solid tumors such as pancreatic or liver cancer where surgical margins are difficult.
Who in Virginia should care
UVA and Virginia Tech both have active electroporation and cancer ablation research programs; Virginia-based interventional oncology device companies or NIH-funded translational centers would be natural partners.
Readiness: Lab validated
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- JILL W. IVEY, EDUARDO L. LATOUCHE, SCOTT S. VERBRIDGE, RAFAEL V. DAVALOS, GLENN J. LESSER, WALDEMAR DEBINSKI
- Granted
- September 10, 2024
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 12083339
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.