OBJECTIVES: Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a novel therapeutic option for the treatment of cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases of malignant melanoma. During the treatment, electric pulses are applied to tumor nodules to deliver nonpermeant or poorly permeant chemotherapeutic agents into the cells, increasing local cytotoxicity of anticancer drugs. We compared the clinical effectiveness of ECT as an alternative palliative treatment option for unresectable metastatic lesions of malignant melanoma with a systematic review of reported outcomes. METHODS: One hundred fifty-eight cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases of nine patients were treated with ECT. All treatments were performed under general anesthesia using intravenous bleomycin injection. Median follow-up was 195 days. RESULTS: In our case series, complete response rate was 23%, and partial response rate was 39%. We observed no change in 30% and progressive disease in 8% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: ECT is a simple and effective treatment of single or multiple cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases of melanoma with minimal side effects. Our results provide further data for the growing body of evidence in recently published studies that ECT used for palliation has clinical benefit. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.
OBJECTIVES: Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a novel therapeutic option for the treatment of cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases of malignant melanoma. During the treatment, electric pulses are applied to tumor nodules to deliver nonpermeant or poorly permeant chemotherapeutic agents into the cells, increasing local cytotoxicity of anticancer drugs. We compared the clinical effectiveness of ECT as an alternative palliative treatment option for unresectable metastatic lesions of malignant melanoma with a systematic review of reported outcomes. METHODS: One hundred fifty-eight cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases of nine patients were treated with ECT. All treatments were performed under general anesthesia using intravenous bleomycin injection. Median follow-up was 195 days. RESULTS: In our case series, complete response rate was 23%, and partial response rate was 39%. We observed no change in 30% and progressive disease in 8% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: ECT is a simple and effective treatment of single or multiple cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases of melanoma with minimal side effects. Our results provide further data for the growing body of evidence in recently published studies that ECT used for palliation has clinical benefit. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.
Authors: Daniel E Spratt; Elizabeth A Gordon Spratt; Shenhong Wu; Antonio DeRosa; Nancy Y Lee; Mario E Lacouture; Christopher A Barker Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2014-08-25 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: Corrado Caracò; Ugo Marone; Ester Simeone; Antonio Maria Grimaldi; Gerardo Botti; Maurizio Del Giudice; Paolo Antonio Ascierto; Nicola Mozzillo Journal: Melanoma Manag Date: 2015-05-18
Authors: Luca G Campana; A James P Clover; Sara Valpione; Pietro Quaglino; Julie Gehl; Christian Kunte; Marko Snoj; Maja Cemazar; Carlo R Rossi; Damijan Miklavcic; Gregor Sersa Journal: Radiol Oncol Date: 2016-02-16 Impact factor: 2.991