A Case Series on Electrochemotherapy Outcomes in Nine Head and Neck Cancer Patients, Focusing on Symptoms and Tumour Size Reduction

Introduction: Head and Neck Carcinomas (HNC) are a significant cancer burden in India and worldwide, often necessitating palliative care due to their locoregional relapse. Electrochemotherapy (ECT), a combination of electroporation and chemotherapy, has shown promise in treating cutaneous tumours an...

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Main Authors: Pratibha Bharat Sampate, Parag J Watve, Nilesh Dhamne, Chaitanya R Patil, Yogesh Anap
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JCDR Research and Publications Pvt. Ltd. 2025-03-01
Series:International Journal of Anatomy Radiology and Surgery
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ijars.net/articles/PDF/3047/75592_CE[Ra1]_F(SHU)_QC(SD_SHU)_PF1(RI_SHU)_redo_PN(IS).pdf
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author Pratibha Bharat Sampate
Parag J Watve
Nilesh Dhamne
Chaitanya R Patil
Yogesh Anap
author_facet Pratibha Bharat Sampate
Parag J Watve
Nilesh Dhamne
Chaitanya R Patil
Yogesh Anap
author_sort Pratibha Bharat Sampate
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Head and Neck Carcinomas (HNC) are a significant cancer burden in India and worldwide, often necessitating palliative care due to their locoregional relapse. Electrochemotherapy (ECT), a combination of electroporation and chemotherapy, has shown promise in treating cutaneous tumours and addressing the limitations of conventional therapies. Aim: To explore the effectiveness of ECT in a palliative setting for patients with recurrent, inoperable head and neck malignancies. Materials and Methods: This case series, conducted at Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Kolhapur Cancer Centre, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India from January 2020 to December 2022, included nine cases that met specific inclusion criteria. Patients unsuitable for standard palliative systemic chemotherapy and with a life expectancy exceeding six months were included. ECT followed European Standard Operating Procedures of Electrochemotherapy (ESOPE) guidelines, focusing on patients with measurable cutaneous or mucosal tumour lesions and excluding contraindications. The study assessed outcomes after three treatment sessions, including bleeding, pain, discharge and tumour size, and employed Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria to evaluate overall responses. Results: The overall mean age of the subjects was 57.78±4.56 years, with males having a mean age of 58.4±4.2 years and females having a mean age of 56.9±4.8 years. The cases included nine individuals with the following tumour sites: Buccal mucosa 6 cases (66.67%), Parotid 1 case (11.11%), and Tongue 2 cases (22.23%). tumour-related bleeding reduced from 7 cases (77.78%) to 1 case (11.11%), and discharge decreased from 8 cases (88.89%) to 2 cases (22.22%) by the third week. Notably, 3 cases (33.33%) exhibited a complete response, another 3 cases (33.33%) demonstrated a partial response, and only 1 case (11.11%) experienced disease progression. Furthermore, 2 cases (22.22%) had stable disease. Conclusion: The ECT demonstrated effectiveness as a palliative option for recurrent, inoperable head and neck malignancies. This approach improved health measurements, reducing symptoms such as bleeding and discharge. A substantial proportion of patients achieved favourable treatment responses.
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spelling doaj-art-b5b826420ca94b2ba59adb8fe26cb3672025-08-20T02:20:33ZengJCDR Research and Publications Pvt. Ltd.International Journal of Anatomy Radiology and Surgery2277-85432455-68742025-03-01142SS10SS1310.7860/IJARS/2025/75592.3047A Case Series on Electrochemotherapy Outcomes in Nine Head and Neck Cancer Patients, Focusing on Symptoms and Tumour Size ReductionPratibha Bharat Sampate0Parag J Watve1Nilesh Dhamne2Chaitanya R Patil3Yogesh Anap4Fellow, Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Kolhapur Cancer Centre, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.Senior Consultant and Medial Director, Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Kolhapur Cancer Centre, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.Senior Consultant, Department of Medical Oncology, Kolhapur Cancer Centre, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.Consultant, Department of Pain and Palliative Care, Kolhapur Cancer Centre, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.Senior Consultant and Medial Director, Department of Radiation Oncology, Kolhapur Cancer Centre, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.Introduction: Head and Neck Carcinomas (HNC) are a significant cancer burden in India and worldwide, often necessitating palliative care due to their locoregional relapse. Electrochemotherapy (ECT), a combination of electroporation and chemotherapy, has shown promise in treating cutaneous tumours and addressing the limitations of conventional therapies. Aim: To explore the effectiveness of ECT in a palliative setting for patients with recurrent, inoperable head and neck malignancies. Materials and Methods: This case series, conducted at Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Kolhapur Cancer Centre, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India from January 2020 to December 2022, included nine cases that met specific inclusion criteria. Patients unsuitable for standard palliative systemic chemotherapy and with a life expectancy exceeding six months were included. ECT followed European Standard Operating Procedures of Electrochemotherapy (ESOPE) guidelines, focusing on patients with measurable cutaneous or mucosal tumour lesions and excluding contraindications. The study assessed outcomes after three treatment sessions, including bleeding, pain, discharge and tumour size, and employed Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria to evaluate overall responses. Results: The overall mean age of the subjects was 57.78±4.56 years, with males having a mean age of 58.4±4.2 years and females having a mean age of 56.9±4.8 years. The cases included nine individuals with the following tumour sites: Buccal mucosa 6 cases (66.67%), Parotid 1 case (11.11%), and Tongue 2 cases (22.23%). tumour-related bleeding reduced from 7 cases (77.78%) to 1 case (11.11%), and discharge decreased from 8 cases (88.89%) to 2 cases (22.22%) by the third week. Notably, 3 cases (33.33%) exhibited a complete response, another 3 cases (33.33%) demonstrated a partial response, and only 1 case (11.11%) experienced disease progression. Furthermore, 2 cases (22.22%) had stable disease. Conclusion: The ECT demonstrated effectiveness as a palliative option for recurrent, inoperable head and neck malignancies. This approach improved health measurements, reducing symptoms such as bleeding and discharge. A substantial proportion of patients achieved favourable treatment responses.http://www.ijars.net/articles/PDF/3047/75592_CE[Ra1]_F(SHU)_QC(SD_SHU)_PF1(RI_SHU)_redo_PN(IS).pdfchemotherapyoncologytreatment outcome
spellingShingle Pratibha Bharat Sampate
Parag J Watve
Nilesh Dhamne
Chaitanya R Patil
Yogesh Anap
A Case Series on Electrochemotherapy Outcomes in Nine Head and Neck Cancer Patients, Focusing on Symptoms and Tumour Size Reduction
International Journal of Anatomy Radiology and Surgery
chemotherapy
oncology
treatment outcome
title A Case Series on Electrochemotherapy Outcomes in Nine Head and Neck Cancer Patients, Focusing on Symptoms and Tumour Size Reduction
title_full A Case Series on Electrochemotherapy Outcomes in Nine Head and Neck Cancer Patients, Focusing on Symptoms and Tumour Size Reduction
title_fullStr A Case Series on Electrochemotherapy Outcomes in Nine Head and Neck Cancer Patients, Focusing on Symptoms and Tumour Size Reduction
title_full_unstemmed A Case Series on Electrochemotherapy Outcomes in Nine Head and Neck Cancer Patients, Focusing on Symptoms and Tumour Size Reduction
title_short A Case Series on Electrochemotherapy Outcomes in Nine Head and Neck Cancer Patients, Focusing on Symptoms and Tumour Size Reduction
title_sort case series on electrochemotherapy outcomes in nine head and neck cancer patients focusing on symptoms and tumour size reduction
topic chemotherapy
oncology
treatment outcome
url http://www.ijars.net/articles/PDF/3047/75592_CE[Ra1]_F(SHU)_QC(SD_SHU)_PF1(RI_SHU)_redo_PN(IS).pdf
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