Electrochemotherapy for the treatment of intractable cutaneous lesions secondary to breast cancer

Abstract

Introduction: Cutaneous metastases of breast cancer often occur in the setting of disseminated, intractable disease and present significant clinical problems due to pain, ulceration or bleeding. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is the application of electric pulses to tumour tissue to render the cell membranes permeable to impermeant hydrophilic anticancer drugs and thereby facilitate a more potent cytotoxic effect. ECT can be an effective palliative treatment for painful, ulcerating or bleeding lesions.