Electrochemotherapy in Breast Cancer - Discussion of the Method and Literature Review

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cause of skin metastases in women. The probability of their occurrence ranges from about 5% in the entire population to as much as 30% in the late stages of the disease. Although rarely life-threatening, they have a major impact on the quality of life of patients with this diagnosis, being the cause of pain, effusion, ulceration, infection, and psychological discomfort. Available methods of treatment, both local and systemic, often fail to provide adequate control of the disease. A particular challenge seems to be the treatment of those patients with cutaneous metastases who, due to the extent of their metastases, are not eligible for resection, in whom the possibility of radiation therapy has already been used, and in whom systemic therapy is ineffective or contraindicated. A new method providing the opportunity for effective treatment is electrochemotherapy (ECT). ECT combines electropulsation of tumor cells (by local application of electric pulses) and administration of antineoplastic drugs such as cisplatin or bleomycin (either intravenous or intratumoral). Several clinical studies have demonstrated that ECT provides safe, efficient, and non-invasive locoregional treatment for chest wall breast cancer recurrence.

Keywords: Bleomycin; Breast cancer; Electrochemotherapy.

Fig. 1

Flow chart presenting steps of electrochemotherapy (courtesy of IGEA, Carpi, Italy).

Fig. 2

Basic Cliniporator™ device with applicator.

Fig. 3

Types of needle electrodes: 1, linear; 2, hexagonal; 3, plate; 4, ring.

Fig. 4

Process of selection of publications included in the literature review.