The controversial role of electrochemotherapy in head and neck cancer: a systematic review of the literature.
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol
; 274(6): 2389-2394, 2017 Jun.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28236011
ABSTRACT
Electroporation, also known as electrochemotherapy, combines an antineoplastic agent with electroporation, causing localized progressive necrosis in the treated area. Today it is primarily used in the palliative treatment of cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases and has been found to be safe and efficacious in head and neck cancer recurrences. Despite the steady increase in the number of published studies this treatment is not universally available and used systematically in head and neck carcinomas. To shed light on its limitations and analyze treatment outcome we have, therefore, reviewed all available literature regarding this topic. This systematic review includes 16 studies on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and reports the data of 200 treated patients. The combined results show a very heterogeneous overall response rate, ranging from 0 to 100%, while the complete response rate ranges between 0 and 83.3%. No major side effects have been described in those who used electrochemotherapy as a mono modality palliative treatment. This systematic review shows how standardization of treatment is still pivotal to achieve a more homogeneous response rate in the approach to head and neck tumors. In conclusion, due to the scarcity of alternatives of treatment in advanced stage cancer in this anatomical region and the good tolerability and mostly high success rates of electrochemotherapy, this palliative approach should be taken into consideration in these patients.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Eletroquimioterapia
/
Neoplasias de Cabeça e Pescoço
Tipo de estudo:
Systematic_reviews
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol
Assunto da revista:
OTORRINOLARINGOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2017
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Itália