Electrochemotherapy for multiple cutaneous tumors in immunosuppressed patients

Abstract

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. Amongst the standard treatment options, electrochemotherapy can be a suitable option. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of electrochemotherapy in immunocompromised patients. 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. 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. 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.