Electrochemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced or recurrent eyelid-periocular basal cell carcinomas

Abstract

There is increasing evidence about the effectiveness of electrochemotherapy (ECT) in the treatment of basal cell carcinomas in the head and neck region, although its role in the management of eyelid-periocular skin tumors has to be clarified. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the results of ECT in the treatment of locally advanced primary and recurrent eyelid-periocular skin basal cell carcinomas. Twelve patients with basal cell carcinoma involving the eyelid-periocular skin region were treated with ECT. Three patients had locally advanced primary tumors, while 9 patients had recurrent tumors. All treatments were performed according to the ESOPE guidelines, using Cliniporator TM device. All patients received bleomycin based ECT. The route of administration was intratumoral in 3 patients and intravenous in 9 patients. Tumor response was evaluated using the RECIST 1.1. criteria. ECT resulted in complete response of the periocular skin tumors in all patients. Lower eyelid ectropion was developed in 3 patients which had to be corrected surgically. ECT can be used effectively in the treatment of locally advanced or recurrent basal cell carcinomas in the eyelid-periocular skin region. Excellent tumor control can be achieved with good functional and cosmetic results without systemic adverse events with short interval follow-up.

Electrochemotherapy in Skin Malignancies of Head and Neck Cancer Patients: Clinical Efficacy and Aesthetic Benefits

“…Because of its selectivity towards dividing tumour cells, when treating safety margins to decrease the risk of recurrence, it spares normal healthy tissue that surround the tumour and preserves organ functions (12,13). This is particularly important in BCC with ill-defined borders and when treating skin tumours of central facial areas where extensive surgery can be disfiguring and where there is a high risk of recurrence after excision (14)(15)(16). Moreover in the local management of extensive metastatic cutaneous melanoma lesions, the application of repeated sessions of ECT can help to avoid the administration of invasive and/or systemic, more debilitating treatments especially in frail elderly patients with comorbidities (17) and allows, in selected cases, for combinations with immunotherapy protocols (18,19).…”

Comparing treatments for basal cell carcinoma in terms of long‐term treatment‐failure: a network meta‐analysis

“…To address the fifth limitation, we sought to investigate the treatment‐failure per year of each treatment in patient level (Fig. S4) . Note that we used the observational studies regarding ECT.…”

“…S4). 28,[30][31][32][33][34] Note that we used the observational studies regarding ECT. Although this makes the investigation less accurate, this information could be helpful.…”

“…Although the treatment performance of ECT was interesting, ECT was not assessed in a RCT manner . Therefore, treatment‐failure per year in patient level was evaluated using meta‐analysis after identifying observational studies regarding ECT was searched from review papers and database …”

“…28 Therefore, treatmentfailure per year in patient level was evaluated using meta-analysis after identifying observational studies regarding ECT was searched from review papers and database. 28,[30][31][32][33][34]…”