An apparatus is provided for selectively destroying dividing cells in living tissue formed of dividing cells and non-dividing cells. The dividing cells contain polarizable intracellular members and during late anaphase or telophase, the dividing cells are connected to one another by a cleavage furrow. The apparatus includes insulated electrodes to be coupled to a generator for subjecting the living tissue to electric field conditions sufficient to cause movement of the polarizable intracellular members toward the cleavage furrow in response to a non-homogeneous electric field being induced in the dividing cells. The movement of the polarizable intracellular members towards the cleavage furrow causes the breakdown thereof which adversely impacts the multiplication of the dividing cells, but does not damage non-dividing cells. In some embodiments, the electric field is guided to a desired target region by varying the sizes of the electrodes that are used to apply the electric field. In other embodiments, the electric field is guided to a desired target region (and/or away from other regions) by positioning one or more conductors in appropriate positions within the patient's body.