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Local treatment with electrochemotherapy of superficial angiosarcomas: Efficacy and safety results from a multi‐institutional retrospective study
Author(s) -
Guida Michele,
Campana Luca G.,
Curatolo Pietro,
Strippoli Sabino,
Bonadies Antonio,
Grilz Gretha,
Cabula Carlo,
Rotunno Roberta,
Bucher Stefania,
Solari Nicola,
Santoriello Antonio,
Valpione Sara,
Rossi Carlo R.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.24287
Subject(s) - electrochemotherapy , medicine , angiosarcoma , bleomycin , response evaluation criteria in solid tumors , retrospective cohort study , surgery , radiology , chemotherapy , progressive disease
Background Angiosarcoma is an aggressive vascular neoplasm with a high propensity for local recurrence. Electrochemotherapy is an emerging skin‐directed therapy, exerting prominent cytotoxic activity, and antivascular effects. Its efficacy in angiosarcoma has not been investigated. Methods This multicenter retrospective analysis reviewed patients who underwent electrochemotherapy from 2007 to 2014 for superficial advanced angiosarcomas. Bleomycin was administered intravenously and delivered within tumors by means of percutaneously applied electric pulses, according to the European Standard Operating Procedures for Electrochemotherapy. Tumor assessment was performed using RECIST (version 1.1). Toxicity (CTCAE, v4.0) and local progression‐free survival (LPFS) were also evaluated. Results Nineteen patients (13 with locally advanced and 6 with metastatic angiosarcomas) were treated. Tumor sites were: scalp (n = 5), breast (n = 8), other skin sites (n = 3), and soft tissue (n = 3). Target lesions (n = 54) ranged in size from 1.5 to 2.5 cm (median, 2 cm). Treatment was well tolerated. After 2 months, an objective response was observed in 12/19 (63%) patients, complete in 8 (42%). One‐year LPFS within treatment field was 68%. Local symptom improvement included palliation of bleeding (5/19 patients) and pain relief (6/19 patients). Conclusions Electrochemotherapy may represent a new locoregional treatment for selected patients with superficial angiosarcomas. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:246–253 . © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.