title: Electrochemotherapy and its controversial results in patients with head and neck cancer.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors: 1st Otorhinolaryngology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Via Paradisa, 2, 56124, PISA, Italy. veronicaseccia@gmail.com.
authors: Veronica
authors: V
authors: Seccia
authors: Luca
authors: L
authors: Muscatello
authors: Iacopo
authors: I
authors: Dallan
authors: Arisa
authors: A
authors: Bajraktari
authors: Tommaso
authors: T
authors: Briganti
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Ursino
authors: Luca
authors: L
authors: Galli
authors: Alfredo
authors: A
authors: Falcone
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Sellari-Franceschini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D053672:Electrochemotherapy; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D001761:Bleomycin
keywords: Electrochemotherapy; bleomycin; head and neck cancer; palliation/palliative care; quality of life