1. Long term effectiveness of electrochemotherapy for the treatment of lower lip squamous cell carcinoma
- Author
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S. Parascandolo, Declan C Murphy, Sergio Razzano, A. Cortese, M. Gargiulo, and J.M. Serra Mestre
- Subjects
Male ,Electrochemotherapy ,Carcinoma ,ECT ,Elderly ,Lower lip SCC ,Squamous cell ,Surgery ,Oral Surgery ,Otorhinolaryngology2734 Pathology and Forensic Medicine ,Lower lip ,Bleomycin ,030207 dermatology & venereal diseases ,03 medical and health sciences ,Therapeutic approach ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,0302 clinical medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,Basal cell ,Infusions, Intravenous ,Adverse effect ,Aged ,Aged, 80 and over ,Body surface area ,Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ,business.industry ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Treatment Outcome ,Otorhinolaryngology ,chemistry ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Anesthesia ,Lip Neoplasms ,Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ,Female ,business - Abstract
Purpose Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a therapeutic approach based on the local application of electrical pulses that permeabilize cell membranes to enhance the uptake of low-permeant chemotherapeutic agents, thus increasing their cytotoxic effects. Materials and methods Twenty-one patients with SCC of the lower lip were treated according to the European Standard Operating Procedures of Electrochemotherapy. Bleomycin (15,000 IU/m2 body surface area) was administered intravenously over a 1-min period. Eight electrical pulses (amplitude, 1000 V/cm; duration, 100 μs) were generated and delivered at a repetition frequency of 5 kHz. Changes in tumor volume were used to assess treatment response. Results Objective response (OR), complete response (CR), and partial response (PR) rates of 100%, 71.4%, and 28.6% respectively were demonstrated following a single session of ECT. ECT was well tolerated, and no adverse events occurred. Conclusions Intravenous bleomycin-based ECT is a safe and effective therapy for SCC of the lower lip. ECT improves the quality-of-life of patients by preserving the function and the aesthetic appearance of the affected area. ECT provides a therapeutic option for elderly and frail patients who, due to their state of health, are not suitable for, or refuse surgical interventions.
- Published
- 2018