<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<sec id="j_raon-2022-0022_s_005">
<h3>Background</h3><p>Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a minimally invasive and safe treatment gaining positive and long-lasting antitumoral results that are receiving the attention of the scientific community. It is a local treatment that combines the use of electroporation and the administration of cytotoxic drugs to induce cell death in the target tissue. ECT is largely used for the treatment of cutaneous and subcutaneous lesions, and good results have been reported for the treatment of deep visceral tumors. The latest literature review is provided. Moreover, in line with its development for the treatment of visceral tumors in this article, we describe a novel approach of ECT: endoscopic treatment of colorectal cancer. Endoscopic ECT application was combined with systemic chemotherapy in the treatment of obstructing rectal cancer without prospective surgery. A good response after ECT was described: concentric involvement of the rectum was reduced, and no stenosing lesions were detected.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_raon-2022-0022_s_006">
<h3>Conclusions</h3>
<p>Clinical studies have demonstrated that ECT is a very effective treatment for tumors of different histologic types and localizations. Endoscopic treatment for gastrointestinal cancer is an innovative application of ECT. The combination of systemic treatment and ECT was safe and highly effective in the treatment of colorectal cancer, especially when obstructive, giving the patient a significant gain in quality of life.</p></sec>
</abstract>

BackgroundElectrochemotherapy (ECT) is a minimally invasive and safe treatment gaining positive and long-lasting antitumoral results that are receiving the attention of the scientific community. It is a local treatment that combines the use of electroporation and the administration of cytotoxic drugs to induce cell death in the target tissue. ECT is largely used for the treatment of cutaneous and subcutaneous lesions, and good results have been reported for the treatment of deep visceral tumors. The latest literature review is provided. Moreover, in line with its development for the treatment of visceral tumors in this article, we describe a novel approach of ECT: endoscopic treatment of colorectal cancer. Endoscopic ECT application was combined with systemic chemotherapy in the treatment of obstructing rectal cancer without prospective surgery. A good response after ECT was described: concentric involvement of the rectum was reduced, and no stenosing lesions were detected.

Conclusions
Clinical studies have demonstrated that ECT is a very effective treatment for tumors of different histologic types and localizations. Endoscopic treatment for gastrointestinal cancer is an innovative application of ECT. The combination of systemic treatment and ECT was safe and highly effective in the treatment of colorectal cancer, especially when obstructive, giving the patient a significant gain in quality of life.

Electrochemotherapy for solid tumors: literature review and presentation of a novel endoscopic approach

Radiology and Oncology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

BackgroundElectrochemotherapy (ECT) is a minimally invasive and safe treatment gaining positive and long-lasting antitumoral results that are receiving the...

Electrochemotherapy for solid tumors: literature review and presentation of a novel endoscopic approach

Article Category: Review

Published Online: Aug 14, 2022

Page range: 285 - 291

Received: Mar 25, 2022

Accepted: Apr 13, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/raon-2022-0022

© 2022 Francesca Matilde Schipilliti, Maurizio Onorato, Giulia Arrivi, Martina Panebianco, Debora Lerinò, Annalisa Milano, Michela Roberto, Carlo Capalbo, Federica Mazzuca, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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