Riva Giuseppe, Salonia Laura, Fassone Elisabetta, Sapino Silvia, Piano Fabrizio, Pecorari Giancarlo
Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy.
Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Santa Croce Hospital, 10024 Moncalieri, Italy.
J Clin Med. 2021 Sep 24;10(19):4366. doi: 10.3390/jcm10194366.
Primary or recurrent head and neck cancer of skin or mucosa represents a challenge for clinicians and could be debilitating for the patient. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) emerged as a local ablative procedure for cutaneous and mucosal head and neck tumors. The aim of this observational study was the evaluation of quality of life (QoL) after ECT in patients without other surgical or radiation options as curative treatment.
The procedure was performed according the ESOPE (European Standard Operating procedure of Electrochemotherapy) protocol. Twenty-seven patients were evaluated before ECT (T0) and 1 (T1), 3 (T2), and 6 (T3) months after the procedure. QoL was assessed by means of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-H&N35 questionnaires.
The objective tumor response rate was 48% (11% CR, 37% PR). Bleeding control was achieved in 7/7 patients who experienced bleeding prior to ECT. QoL improvement was observed after the procedure. In particular, global health status and social functioning were higher after ECT ( 0.026 and 0.043), while pain, pain-killers use and appetite loss decreased ( 0.045, 0.025 and 0.002).
ECT represents a safe and effective treatment for skin and mucosal head and neck tumors without other curative options. It ensures a good pain and bleeding control without worsening of QoL.
原发性或复发性皮肤或黏膜头颈部癌对临床医生而言是一项挑战，且可能使患者虚弱。电化学疗法（ECT）作为一种用于皮肤和黏膜头颈部肿瘤的局部消融手术应运而生。本观察性研究的目的是评估在没有其他手术或放疗作为根治性治疗选择的患者中，ECT治疗后的生活质量（QoL）。
该手术按照ESOPE（欧洲电化学疗法标准操作程序）方案进行。27例患者在ECT治疗前（T0）以及治疗后1个月（T1）、3个月（T2）和6个月（T3）接受评估。通过欧洲癌症研究与治疗组织（EORTC）QLQ-C30和EORTC QLQ-H&N35问卷评估生活质量。
客观肿瘤缓解率为48%（完全缓解率11%，部分缓解率37%）。7例ECT治疗前有出血情况的患者均实现了出血控制。治疗后观察到生活质量有所改善。特别是，ECT治疗后总体健康状况和社会功能有所提高（P分别为0.026和0.043），而疼痛、止痛药使用和食欲减退情况有所下降（P分别为0.045、0.025和0.002）。
对于没有其他根治性选择的皮肤和黏膜头颈部肿瘤，ECT是一种安全有效的治疗方法。它能确保良好的疼痛和出血控制，且不会使生活质量恶化。
