title: Potential Role of Electrochemotherapy as Anticancer Treatment for Cutaneous and Subcutaneous Lesions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate whether electrochemotherapy is a clinically and cost-effective treatment option against skin tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed an analysis of the current literature based on database searches in PubMed/MEDLINE and we included articles till July 2012. Terms used for the search were 'electrochemotherapy', 'skin cancer', 'recurrence', and 'cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors'. Only papers published in English were included. In addition, we performed an analysis of the cost effectiveness of the method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The combination of physics and chemistry is the foundation for electrochemotherapy and its efficacy, independent of the tumor histology. Clinical data showed that ECT is well tolerated and can be used in difficult cases without other available treatment options. The analysis also showed that the treatment is feasible and cost-effective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electrochemotherapy is a clinically efficient, safe and cost-effective treatment and clinicians should not hesitate to use it as an alternative therapeutic modality or as palliative treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Radiotherapy Unit, Aretaieion University Hospital, Medical School, Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece E-mail : annazygo1@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zygogianni
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kyrgias
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scarlatos
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koukourakis
authors.forename: Kyriakos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Souliotis
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kouvaris
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kelekis
authors.forename: Vassilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kouloulias
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000379:methods; D053672:Electrochemotherapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents