ABLATION OF NEOPLASIA BY DIRECT-CURRENT

The application of low-voltage direct electrical current (DEC) has bee n studied in animals and humans for the ablation of anal condylomata, oesophageal cancer and Kaposi's sarcoma. Twenty milliamps of DEC passe d through multiple 6 cm x 1 cm, flat-plate longitudinal electrodes int o the squamous mucosa of the oesophagus of healthy dogs for periods ra nging from 10 min to 2 h resulted in denudation and necrosis of the oe sophageal mucosa at the site of application of the current. In humans, the application of DEC to two patients with benign anal condyloma acu minata, three patients with inoperable obstructing oesophageal cancer and one patient with disseminated Kaposi sarcoma resulted in striking necrosis of tumour tissue that was confirmed by macroscopic and micros copic studies. These initial findings imply promising therapeutic pote ntial for the use of DEC as a simple, effective, safe, low-cost altern ative for ablation of neoplasia.