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Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a local anticancer treatment for superficial tumors which involves the administration of a chemotherapeutic drug followed by short, highvoltage pulses. Incipient clinical experience with breast cancer patients are encouraging, with a local complete response rate ranging from 50 to 90%. However, since many patients present with multiple or widespread metastases, ECT, despite its high local antitumor efficacy, need to be applied several times in order to complete treatment delivery or maintain tumor control during the follow-up. In this paper, we propose the prototype of a new grid electrode aimed at the improvement of ECT application. The device is suitable for treating large, tumor-infiltrated skin surfaces as in breast cancer patients with chest wall metastases after mastectomy. According to our tests in different in vitro models, the new device allows to apply the voltage pulses more quickly and homogeneously when compared with standard pulse applicators. This technical advancement holds promise for improving ECT outcome and, hopefully, for sparing a number of patients from the need of multiple treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes an integrated procedure for the reconstruction of halo currents expected in ITER. The procedure is based on simulation and reconstruction codes, partially adapted from existing codes and partly developed specifically for this purpose. The ultimate goal of this integrated procedure is the assessment of the performance and the possible optimization of the halo current diagnostic system foreseen in ITER. The preliminary results indicate that an alternative distribution of the present layout of halo current sensors could improve the reconstruction capability of this diagnostic system. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]