1. Electrochemotherapy for the palliative management of non-skin-origin head and neck cancer: case series and UK national survey.
- Author
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McCaffer C, Wong BYW, Murugan CS, Muir T, and Lester S
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular secondary, Carcinoma, Squamous Cell secondary, Esthesioneuroblastoma, Olfactory secondary, Head and Neck Neoplasms secondary, Humans, Male, Retrospective Studies, Surveys and Questionnaires, Treatment Outcome, United Kingdom, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular drug therapy, Carcinoma, Squamous Cell drug therapy, Electrochemotherapy, Esthesioneuroblastoma, Olfactory drug therapy, Head and Neck Neoplasms drug therapy, Palliative Care
- Abstract
Objectives: Electrochemotherapy uses electric fields to facilitate the influx of chemotherapy into cancer cells, producing a targeted effect. For head and neck cancer, it is mainly used for palliation of non-skin-origin metastases. It is used infrequently in the UK. This paper presents our experience and a UK survey to identify its frequency of use., Methods: Between 2016 and 2019, a prospective database was created and reviewed. Only patients with non-skin-origin metastatic head and neck cancer, with no other palliative options, were included. Survival length, complications and symptomatic benefit were assessed. The survey was conducted via e-mail., Results: Five patients were included: three with squamous cell carcinoma, one with esthesioneuroblastoma and one with hepatocellular carcinoma. Survival ranged from 1 month to over 20 months. Minor complications were seen. Only 15 out of 69 UK head and neck multidisciplinary teams offer electrochemotherapy., Conclusion: Electrochemotherapy is a well-tolerated adjunct to standard palliation of metastatic head and neck cancer, and is offered by a limited number of UK multidisciplinary teams.
- Published
- 2022
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