The role of electrochemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced or recurrent eyelid-periocular basal cell carcinoma: long-term results.

BACKGROUND: While electrochemotherapy (ECT) is increasingly utilized as a highly effective method in the treatment of tumors in the head and neck region, there is significantly less data available for eyelid-periocular skin tumors. Our group reported the first extensive case series of eyelid-periocular basal cell carcinoma (BCC) patients with short-term follow-up treatment with ECT. The present study aims to report our long-term results of eyelid-periocular BCC cases treated with ECT. METHODS: The treatments were performed according to the ESOPE (European Standard Operating Procedures on Electrochemotherapy) guidelines using the Cliniporator™ device. All patients received bleomycin-based ECT, administered intratumorally or intravenously. Tumor response was evaluated using the RECIST 1.1 criteria. RESULTS: The results of 19 patients treated with ECT are presented. Four patients had locally advanced primary tumors, while 15 patients had recurrent tumors. Bleomycin was administered intratumorally in four patients and intravenously in 15 patients. The overall response was 100%, while the complete response rate proved to be 95%. In three cases (15.8%), recurrence was observed during the mean follow-up period of 78.9 months. CONCLUSIONS: ECT can effectively treat locally advanced or recurrent BCC in the eyelid-periocular skin region. Excellent tumor control can be achieved with good functional and cosmetic results without systemic adverse events with long interval follow-up.

[Electrochemotherapy for multiple cutaneous tumors in immunosuppressed patients]. / Immunszupprimált betegek multiplex bordaganatainak elektrokemoterápiás kezelése.

INTRODUCTION: The risk of cutaneous malignancies is significantly higher in immunosuppressed patients compared to the general population. These high-risk skin tumors tend to be aggressive, multiplex, rapidly growing lesions. It is common to see local recurrence after surgical excision. Multiplex tumors are difficult to treat, especially in the head/neck region. OBJECTIVE: Amongst the standard treatment options, electrochemotherapy can be a suitable option. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of electrochemotherapy in immunocompromised patients. METHOD: In 9 immunosuppressed patients, 118 (average: 13, n = 5-27) non-melanoma skin tumors were treated with electrochemotherapy with intravenous administration of bleomycin, according to the ESOPE criteria. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 15 months. 6 months after the treatment, the objective response rate was 96%. We observed complete response in 88%, partial response in 8% and progressive disease in 2% of the treated lesions. In 2%, the response was not evaluable. CONCLUSION: In immunocompromised patients, electrochemotherapy is an effective and safe therapeutic option for non-melanoma skin tumors. In order to provide more ideal management for this special sub-group, prevention, multidisciplinary approach and optimized immunosuppressive therapy is essential. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(37): 1462-1468.

Innovation in the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer: daylight photodynamic therapy / Új eljárás a nem melanoma típusú bordaganatok kezelésében: "daylight" fotodinámiás terápia

Introduction: Photodynamic therapy is indicated for the treatment of superficial basal cell carcinoma, Bowen's disease and actinic keratosis. Reactive oxygen radicals are released from the metabolite of the topically applied photosensitizer that is excited by light, which selectively leads to the destruction of tumor cells. The procedure can be performed with an artificial light source or with the use of sunlight. The latter is called daylight photodynamic therapy, which is an effective and painless procedure. Objective: Our aim was to introduce daylight photodynamic therapy in actinic keratoses at our department and to optimize the treatment protocol for the local climatic conditions. Method: Three clinical trials were performed. The difference between the treatment protocols was between the incubation time of the photosensitizer on the skin and in the time patients spent under the sunlight. Results: When using the international treatment protocol, 73% of the actinic keratoses showed complete, while 27% partial remission. By reducing the proportion of time patients spent outdoor, complete remission was achieved in

Evaluation of Calcium Electroporation for the Treatment of Cutaneous Metastases: A Double Blinded Randomised Controlled Phase II Trial.

Calcium electroporation (Ca-EP) is a new anticancer treatment providing similar features to electrochemotherapy (ECT). The aim of our study is to compare the efficacy of Ca-EP with bleomycin-based ECT. This double-blinded randomized controlled phase II study was conducted at the Medical University of Szeged, Hungary. During this once only treatment up to ten measurable cutaneous metastases per patient were separately block randomized for intratumoral delivery of either calcium or bleomycin, which was followed by reversible electroporation. Tumour response was evaluated clinically and histologically six months after treatment. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03628417, closed). Seven patients with 44 metastases (34 from malignant melanoma, 10 from breast cancer) were included in the study. Eleven metastases were taken for biopsies, and 33 metastases were randomised and treated once. The objective response rates were 33% (6/18) for Ca-EP and 53% (8/15) for bleomycin-based ECT, with 22% (4/18) and 40% (6/15) complete response rates, respectively. The CR was confirmed histologically in both arms. Serious adverse events were not registered. Ulceration and hyperpigmentation, both CTCA criteria grade I side effects, were observed more frequently after bleomycin-based ECT than for Ca-EP. Ca-EP was non-inferior to ECT, therefore, it should be considered as a feasible, effective and safe treatment option.