Christina Caroline Plaschke1, Giulia Bertino2, James A McCaul3, Juan J Grau4, Remco de Bree5, Gregor Sersa6, Antonio Occhini2, Ales Groselj7, Cristobal Langdon4, Derrek A Heuveling8, Maja Cemazar6, Primoz Strojan6, C Rene Leemans8, Marco Benazzo2, Francesca De Terlizzi9, Irene Wessel1, Julie Gehl10. 1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery and Audiology, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 9Blegdamsvej, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark. 2. Department of Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery, University of Pavia, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, P.le Golgi 2, 27100, Pavia, Italy. 3. Head and Neck Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital London, Fulham Rd, London, SW3 6JJ, UK; Maxillofacial Unit London Northwest Healthcare Trust, UK. 4. Department of Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery, Oncologic Service Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain. 5. Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1118, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology, UMC Utrecht Cancer Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3484 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands. 6. Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska 2, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia. 7. Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Cervicofacial Surgery, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloska 2, Ljubljana, SI-1000, Slovenia. 8. Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1118, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 9. IGEA Clinical Biophysics Department, Via Parmenide 10/A, Carpi, 41012, Modena, Italy. 10. Department of Oncology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Experimental Drug and Gene Electrotransfer (C*EDGE), Department of Clinical Oncology and Palliative Care, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark. Electronic address: kgeh@regionsjaelland.dk.
Abstract
AIM: Electrochemotherapy is an effective local treatment for cutaneous tumours and metastases. In this prospective trial, six European institutions investigated electrochemotherapy in recurrent, mucosal head and neck tumours. PATIENT AND METHODS: Forty-three patients with recurrent mucosal head and neck tumours and no further curative or reasonably effective palliative treatment options were enrolled and treated with electrochemotherapy. Patients were treated in general anaesthesia using intravenous or local injection of bleomycin followed by delivery of electric pulses to the tumour area. Primary end-point was local tumour response. Secondary end-points were safety and toxicity, overall and progression free survival, and quality-of-life. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients were evaluable for tumour response, pain score, side-effects and quality of life questionnaires. Six patients were not evaluable due to lost follow-up, disease progression or death before evaluation. Intention to treat analysis revealed an objective response of 56% (complete response 8 (19%), partial response 16 (37%), stable disease 10 (23%), progressive disease 3 (7%), and not evaluable 6 (14%)). Three patients (7%) remained in complete response at 30, 34, and 84 months post-treatment. The treatment procedure was generally well tolerated. Swelling of the mucosa was observed in the first days after treatment. Pain and use of pain medication rose temporarily; fatigue and dysphagia were also noted in the quality of life assessment. CONCLUSION: Electrochemotherapy can be applied to mucosal head and neck recurrent tumours accessible to the procedure with promising objective response, survival and toxicity profile. Attention should be paid to post-treatment swelling and planning of pain medication. These favourable results indicate that electrochemotherapy could play a role in patients with recurrent head and neck cancer.
AIM: Electrochemotherapy is an effective local treatment for cutaneous tumours and metastases. In this prospective trial, six European institutions investigated electrochemotherapy in recurrent, mucosal head and neck tumours. PATIENT AND METHODS: Forty-three patients with recurrent mucosal head and neck tumours and no further curative or reasonably effective palliative treatment options were enrolled and treated with electrochemotherapy. Patients were treated in general anaesthesia using intravenous or local injection of bleomycin followed by delivery of electric pulses to the tumour area. Primary end-point was local tumour response. Secondary end-points were safety and toxicity, overall and progression free survival, and quality-of-life. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients were evaluable for tumour response, pain score, side-effects and quality of life questionnaires. Six patients were not evaluable due to lost follow-up, disease progression or death before evaluation. Intention to treat analysis revealed an objective response of 56% (complete response 8 (19%), partial response 16 (37%), stable disease 10 (23%), progressive disease 3 (7%), and not evaluable 6 (14%)). Three patients (7%) remained in complete response at 30, 34, and 84 months post-treatment. The treatment procedure was generally well tolerated. Swelling of the mucosa was observed in the first days after treatment. Pain and use of pain medication rose temporarily; fatigue and dysphagia were also noted in the quality of life assessment. CONCLUSION: Electrochemotherapy can be applied to mucosal head and neck recurrent tumours accessible to the procedure with promising objective response, survival and toxicity profile. Attention should be paid to post-treatment swelling and planning of pain medication. These favourable results indicate that electrochemotherapy could play a role in patients with recurrent head and neck cancer.
Authors: Ishan Goswami; Justin B Perry; Mitchell E Allen; David A Brown; Michael R von Spakovsky; Scott S Verbridge Journal: Biophys J Date: 2018-06-19 Impact factor: 4.033
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: Edoardo Crimini; Michela Roberto; Valter Degli Effetti; Paolo Marchetti; Andrea Botticelli; Francesca Matilde Schipilliti; Giulia Arrivi; Federica Mazzuca Journal: Case Rep Oncol Med Date: 2019-03-28
Authors: Christina Caroline Plaschke; Julie Gehl; Helle Hjorth Johannesen; Barbara Malene Fischer; Andreas Kjaer; Anne Fog Lomholt; Irene Wessel Journal: Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol Date: 2019-01-03
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