[Electrochemotherapy of melanoma cutaneous metastases]

Electrochemotherapy is an effective treatment of cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases in patients with malignant melanoma. During the treatment, electric pulses are applied to tumor nodules to deliver non-permeating or poorly permeating chemotherapeutic agents into the cells thereby increasing local cytotoxicity of anticancer drugs.

In 7 patients 81 cutaneous and subcutaneous melanoma metastases were treated with electrochemotherapy. All treatments were performed under general anesthesia using intravenous bleomycin injection. Median follow-up was 218 days.

Complete response rate was 25%, partial response rate was 43%. We observed no change in 26%, and progressive disease in 6%.

Electrochemotherapy is a simple and effective treatment of single or multiple cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases of melanoma, with minimal side effects. Our results confirm the results of recently published studies that the treatment used for palliation has clinical benefit and impact on the quality of life.