Combination of Irreversible Electroporation and Clostridium novyi-NT Bacterial Therapy for Colorectal Liver Metastasis

Authors

Zigeng Zhang, University of California, Irvine
Guangbo Yu, University of California, Irvine
Qiaoming Hou, University of California, Irvine
Farideh Amirrad, Chapman UniversityFollow
Sha Webster, Chapman University
Surya M. Nauli, Chapman UniversityFollow
Jianhua Yu, University of California, Irvine
Vahid Yaghmai, University of California, Irvine
Aydin Eresen, University of California, Irvine
Zhuoli Zhang, University of California, Irvine

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-26-2025

Abstract

Colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) poses a significant challenge in oncology due to its high incidence and poor prognosis in unresectable cases. Current treatments, including surgical resection, systemic chemotherapy, and liver-directed therapies, often fail to effectively target hypoxic tumor regions, which are inherently more resistant to these interventions. This review examines the potential of a novel therapeutic strategy combining irreversible electroporation (IRE) ablation and Clostridium novyi-nontoxic (C. novyi-NT) bacterial therapy. IRE is a non-thermal tumor ablation technique that uses high-voltage electric pulses to create permanent nanopores in cell membranes, leading to cell death while preserving surrounding structures, and is often associated with temporary tumor hypoxia due to disrupted perfusion. C. novyi-NT is an attenuated, anaerobic bacterium engineered to selectively germinate and proliferate in hypoxic tumor regions, resulting in localized tumor cell lysis while sparing healthy, oxygenated tissue. The synergy between IRE-induced hypoxia and hypoxia-sensitive C. novyi-NT may enhance tumor destruction and stimulate systemic antitumor immunity. Furthermore, the integration of advanced imaging and artificial intelligence can support precise treatment planning and real-time monitoring. This integrated approach holds promise for improving outcomes in patients with CRLM, though further preclinical and clinical validation is needed.

Comments

This article was originally published in Cancers, volume 17, issue 15, in 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17152477

Recommended Citation

Zhang, Z.; Yu, G.; Hou, Q.; Amirrad, F.;Webster, S.; Nauli, S.M.; Yu, J.; Yaghmai, V.; Eresen, A.; Zhang, Z. Combination of Irreversible Electroporation and Clostridium novyi-NT Bacterial Therapy for Colorectal Liver Metastasis. Cancers 2025, 17, 247. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17152477

Copyright

The authors

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.