Prof. Dr. Maja Čemažar: Electroporation in Oncology
April 21, 2026, UL Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology – At the latest ASEF Speaker Series event, we hosted an exceptionally insightful lecture by Prof. Dr. Maja Čemažar from the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, who spoke on the application of electroporation in oncology.
Prof. Dr. Čemažar presented the evolution of modern cancer treatment and emphasized that Slovenia remains highly active in this research field. A particularly notable point is that Slovenia hosts one of the oldest population-based cancer registries in Europe, which allows for precise monitoring of disease incidence and the development of effective treatment approaches.
The core of the lecture focused on electroporation – a method in which electrical pulses temporarily increase the permeability of the cell membrane. This facilitates the enhanced entry of drugs or genetic material into cells. Based on this principle, various therapeutic strategies are being developed, including:
- Electrochemotherapy (ECT): A method that improves the effectiveness of anti-tumor drugs with relatively few side effects due to its localized action.
- Gene electrotransfer: A technique that enables the use of electroporation in gene therapy.
ECT is utilized for various types of tumors. Beyond the direct destruction of tumor cells, it can trigger an immune response against the tumor, as released tumor antigens activate the immune system. Consequently, research is increasingly exploring the combination of ECT with immunotherapy, as such an approach can enhance treatment efficacy even in tumors that are otherwise less immunologically active.
The lecture also highlighted the importance of modern research – ranging from genomics and proteomics to clinical trials – which paves the way for increasingly personalized cancer treatment.
The event offered an excellent overview of how fundamental research, technology, and medicine converge in the development of new cancer therapies.
The event was organized with the support of the Government Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Slovenians Abroad and the Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Youth.