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Efficiency of electrochemotherapy with reduced bleomycin dose in the treatment of nonmelanoma head and neck skin cancer: Preliminary results
Author(s) -
Groselj Ales,
Bosnjak Masa,
Strojan Primoz,
Krzan Mojca,
Cemazar Maja,
Sersa Gregor
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.24991
Subject(s) - electrochemotherapy , bleomycin , skin cancer , head and neck , medicine , head and neck cancer , dermatology , cancer , surgery , chemotherapy
Background In the present study, effectiveness of electrochemotherapy was compared in patients with nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) of the head and neck using standard and reduced doses of bleomycin. Methods Twenty‐eight patients older than 65 years were prospectively treated with electrochemotherapy for nonmelanoma head and neck skin cancer. In the experimental group (n = 12 patients; 24 lesions), reduced bleomycin doses (10 000 IU/m 2 ) were used. In the control group (n = 16 patients; 28 lesions), the standard bleomycin doses (15 000 IU/m 2 ) were used. Tumor responses and side effects were monitored. These two groups were pair matched for the characteristics of patients (age, gender) and their tumors (diameter, histology type, recurrent lesions). Results Complete tumor response at 2 months post‐electrochemotherapy with the reduced bleomycin dose was 100% and with the standard bleomycin dose it was 96%. No statistically significant difference regarding skin toxicity was observed between the 2 groups ( P = .20). Skin toxicity of grade 3 or less was recorded only in the control group (7% of treated lesions). Conclusion Presented results show the comparable antitumor effectiveness of electrochemotherapy when using standard or reduced bleomycin dose in elderly patients with nonmelanoma head and neck skin cancer.