Information for patients
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What is ePORE® therapy?
ePORE® therapy is a cancer treatment that involves the application of short electrical pulses to cancer cells using a tiny wire (“electrode”), in combination with a substance called calcium. Calcium is a natural salt that, when introduced in high concentrations within cells, it can kill them. ePORE® is delivered with a device called EndoVE® that is attached to a slim camera (an endoscope). It works by delivering brief (microsecond) electrical pulses to your tumour. The electrical pulses cause small holes (“pores”) to be formed in the surface of the cancer cells, and this allows calcium to enter the cells and kill them.
Concept of ePORE® therapy
1. Calcium injection surrounds tumour cell.
2. Electrical pulses are applied and this leads to pore formation in tumour cells and calcium entry into the cell.
3. Calcium is absorbed by the tumour cell as the pores close.
4. Calcium kills the cancer cells.
What happens at the hosptial?
You will be examined by your doctor before the procedure to ensure that you are a suitable candidate for ePORE® therapy.
On the day of your ePORE® therapy procedure, your doctor will discuss with you what type of sedation will be used. This is standard procedure during a gastrointestinal endoscopy.
For the procedure, the EndoVE® probe attached to the endoscope/colonoscope will be administered to deliver the electrical pulses.
Once the procedure is completed, you will be observed and monitored by your doctor and will be taken to the recovery area to allow your sedation to wear off.
Two days after the procedure, you will need to attend the hospital for a blood test to measure the calcium levels in your blood stream.
What are the advantages of ePORE® therapy?
ePORE® therapy cannot cure cancer, but it may reduce bleeding coming from the surface of tumours due to the delivery of the electrical pulses to the cancer in the gullet or large intestine (colon and rectum). ePORE may also shrink tumours. These effects may improve comfort and quality of life.
ePORE® therapy has also been used to treat skin cancer and has been a safe treatment for over 10 years.
What are the associated risks?
Some patients may experience a mild fever following the treatment, but pain-relieving medication can be prescribed to help relieve this.
Serious side effects such as a tear/hole in the bowel or irregular heart beat from the substance injected (calcium) in the tumour are extremely rare and will be explained by the clinical team responsible for your care.
Are there any alternative treatments?
An alternative option if your tumour causes gullet or bowel blockages is a procedure called “Stenting”. This involves the insertion of a metallic spiral-like cylinder that helps keep the gullet or bowel open. This may be challenging or not possible if the tumour is too high up in the gullet or too low down in the bowel.
Palliative Radiotherapy is also an option, mainly to improve bleeding from the tumour but not so much to relieve bowel blockage from the tumour.
Contact numbers
University Hospital of North Tees
Clinical Endoscopists
Telephone: 01642 617671
Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Email: [email protected] and [email protected]
Outside these hours, please contact our Emergency Department on 01642 382899 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) and advice will be sought by the emergency team from our on-call Gastroenterologist or Surgeon, as required.
Further information
Mirai Medical
Website: https://mirai-medical.com/
Patient Experience Team (PET)
North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust would like your feedback. If you would like to share your experience about your care and treatment or on behalf of a patient, please contact The Patient Experience Team who will help you to do this.
This service is based at the University Hospital of North Tees but also covers the University Hospital of Hartlepool, our community hospitals and community health services.
North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
Telephone: 01642 624719 / Freephone: 0800 092 0084
Email: [email protected]
Monday to Friday, 9:30 am to 4:00 pm
Out of hours if you wish to speak to a senior member of Trust staff, please contact the hospital switchboard (numbers below).
Leaflet Reference: PI047
Date for Review: 12/03/2029