Effect of electrochemotherapy on myogenesis of mouse C2C12 cells in vitro

Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a local ablative therapy for the treatment of different skin and subcutaneous tumors and certain tumors in internal organs. Skeletal muscle represents a major tumor- surrounding tissue, exposed to side effects of ECT. At the cellular level, side-effects of ECT on skeletal muscle and underlying mechanisms have not been examined yet. Thus, we aimed to determine the effect of ECT in the mouse muscle cell line C2C12 during in vitro myogenesis. We evaluated the electroporation efficiency and viability of C2C12 myotubes at increasing voltages (200-1300 V/cm) using propidium iodide (PI). Permeabilization of PI into the cells was voltage-dependent accounting up to 97 % efficiency at the highest voltage. High cell viability and myotube integrity were maintained until 4 days after electroporation. ECT with the cytostatic drugs bleomycin and cisplatin decreased the viability of C2C12 myoblasts and myotubes in a dose-dependent manner. However, myoblasts were more sensitive to ECT than myotubes. Increased secretion of IL-6, observed 3 days after ECT, confirming its effects on early myogenesis. Only minor effects of ECT were observed in treated myotubes. These results contribute to the safety profile of ECT in tumor treatment.