BACKGROUND: Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is proposed as an innovative treatment for cutaneous and subcutaneous primary and secondary malignancies. Its actual application is limited to palliative treatment but recent experience predisposes for its utilization as neoadjuvant and first-line treatment. We explored the clinical application of ECT in a population of patients with head and neck cancer and we critically analyzed our results. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nine patients (four females; mean age=62.7 years) with recurrent or persistent squamous cell cancer in the head and neck area were treated with electrochemotherapy (ECT), with the aim of controlling local neoplastic growth and diminish local symptoms (pain, bleeding). RESULTS: Our results in terms of local control and impact on quality of life were evaluated: among 14 lesions assessable for the study, 6/14 lesions exhibited a partial response, 4/14 a complete response, and in four cases we observed progression of the disease. CONCLUSION: Our personal experience in a heterogeneous, small group of patients with head and neck cancer gave controversial results, with disputable advantages in terms of quality of life improvement. We believe that the critical aspects of ECT in patients with head and neck cancer need to be further analyzed in order to better focus on the role of ECT for head and neck cancer.
BACKGROUND: Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is proposed as an innovative treatment for cutaneous and subcutaneous primary and secondary malignancies. Its actual application is limited to palliative treatment but recent experience predisposes for its utilization as neoadjuvant and first-line treatment. We explored the clinical application of ECT in a population of patients with head and neck cancer and we critically analyzed our results. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nine patients (four females; mean age=62.7 years) with recurrent or persistent squamous cell cancer in the head and neck area were treated with electrochemotherapy (ECT), with the aim of controlling local neoplastic growth and diminish local symptoms (pain, bleeding). RESULTS: Our results in terms of local control and impact on quality of life were evaluated: among 14 lesions assessable for the study, 6/14 lesions exhibited a partial response, 4/14 a complete response, and in four cases we observed progression of the disease. CONCLUSION: Our personal experience in a heterogeneous, small group of patients with head and neck cancer gave controversial results, with disputable advantages in terms of quality of life improvement. We believe that the critical aspects of ECT in patients with head and neck cancer need to be further analyzed in order to better focus on the role of ECT for head and neck cancer.
Entities:
Keywords:
Electrochemotherapy; bleomycin; head and neck cancer; palliation/palliative care; quality of life
Authors: Armando De Virgilio; Massimo Ralli; Lucia Longo; Patrizia Mancini; Giuseppe Attanasio; Francesca Atturo; Marco De Vincentiis; Antonio Greco Journal: Oncol Lett Date: 2018-07-12 Impact factor: 2.967
Authors: Gianluca Di Monta; Corrado Caracò; Ester Simeone; Antonio Maria Grimaldi; Ugo Marone; Massimiliano Di Marzo; Vito Vanella; Lucia Festino; Marco Palla; Stefano Mori; Nicola Mozzillo; Paolo Antonio Ascierto Journal: J Transl Med Date: 2017-04-26 Impact factor: 5.531
Authors: Primož Strojan; Aleš Grošelj; Gregor Serša; Christina Caroline Plaschke; Jan B Vermorken; Sandra Nuyts; Remco de Bree; Avraham Eisbruch; William M Mendenhall; Robert Smee; Alfio Ferlito Journal: Cancers (Basel) Date: 2021-03-12 Impact factor: 6.639
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