Intralesional bleomycin-mediated electrochemotherapy in 20 patients with basal cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
A new anticancer therapy, electrochemotherapy (ECT), has been introduced that entails exposing cancerous tissues to short pulses of electricity during chemotherapy. This enhances cell membrane permeability and has been shown to have potent antitumor effects in vitro in animal models and in several clinical trials, including nevoid basal cell carcinoma (BCC).


OBJECTIVE
We report the effects of ECT on 20 patients with primary BCC.


METHODS
Electrical pulses were delivered to 54 tumors after administration of intralesional bleomycin sulfate.


RESULTS
Complete responses were observed in 53 (98%), and in the majority of these (94%) after a single treatment. No recurrences have been recorded with a mean of 18 months of observation.


CONCLUSIONS
Although these are preliminary results, ECT appears to be an effective alternative to surgical excision for the treatment of primary BCC.
Glass
L F
LF
Department of Dermatology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa 33612, USA.
Jaroszeski
M
M
Gilbert
R
R
Reintgen
D S
DS
Heller
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004890:Erythema / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D007478:Iontophoresis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012074:Remission Induction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000473:pathology; D013193:Stainless Steel; D014945:Wound Healing
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D001761:Bleomycin; D013193:Stainless Steel