title: Bleomycin-based electrochemotherapy: clinical outcome from a single institution's experience with 52 patients.
abstract: Electrochemotherapy (ECT) has emerged as a complementary treatment for superficial metastases. Fifty-two consecutive patients with different cancer histotypes, mainly melanoma and breast cancer, with disease unsuitable for conventional treatments underwent bleomycin-based ECT for cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases. Toxicity, local response, response duration, and the impact on quality of life were evaluated. A total of 608 tumor nodules were treated (mean, 12 per patient), with 27% of patients affected by nodules >3 cm in size. Treatment was tolerated well, especially under general sedation. An objective response was obtained in 50 (96%) of 52 patients 1 month after the first application. Twenty-two patients underwent a second treatment (because of partial response or the appearance of new lesions). Partial response at first ECT achieved a response consolidation at second application: 80% complete response, 20% partial response. Some patients underwent up to five treatments because of new lesions, but maintained superficial tumor control. After a mean follow-up of 9 (range, 2-21) months, only two patients experienced relapse in the treatment field. Through a nonvalidated eight-item questionnaire (assessing wound healing and bleeding, aesthetic impairment, daily activities, social relations, pain, treatment satisfaction, acceptance of retreatment), most patients reported a benefit in local disease-related complaints and in activity of daily living. In a palliative setting, ECT proved to be safe, effective in all tumors treated, and useful in preserving patients' quality of life. This benefit, although preliminary, deserves further assessment after a formal validation of the dedicated questionnaire.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncological and Surgical Sciences, Istituto di Clinica Chirurgica Generale II, Policlinico Universitario, 6 degrees Piano Via Giustiniani 2, 33128, Padova, Italy. maximizing@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Luca G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Campana
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mocellin
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basso
authors.forename: Oliviero
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Puccetti
authors.forename: Gian Luca
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: De Salvo
authors.forename: Vanna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chiarion-Sileni
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vecchiato
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corti
authors.forename: Carlo R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Donato
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nitti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D053672:Electrochemotherapy; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D001761:Bleomycin