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Updated: Mar 21, 2026
Electrochemotherapy of Tumours
Published on: December 15, 2008
Local treatment with electrochemotherapy of superficial angiosarcomas: Efficacy and safety results from a
Michele Guida1, Luca G Campana2,3, Pietro Curatolo4
1Medical Oncology Unit, Istituto dei Tumori, Bari, Italy.
Background:
Angiosarcoma is an aggressive vascular neoplasm with a high propensity for local recurrence. Electrochemotherapy is an emerging skin-directed therapy, exerting prominent cytotoxic activity, and antivascular effects. Its efficacy in angiosarcoma has not been investigated.
Methods:
This multicenter retrospective analysis reviewed patients who underwent electrochemotherapy from 2007 to 2014 for superficial advanced angiosarcomas. Bleomycin was administered intravenously and delivered within tumors by means of percutaneously applied electric pulses, according to the European Standard Operating Procedures for Electrochemotherapy. Tumor assessment was performed using RECIST (version 1.1). Toxicity (CTCAE, v4.0) and local progression-free survival (LPFS) were also evaluated.
Results:
Nineteen patients (13 with locally advanced and 6 with metastatic angiosarcomas) were treated. Tumor sites were: scalp (n = 5), breast (n = 8), other skin sites (n = 3), and soft tissue (n = 3). Target lesions (n = 54) ranged in size from 1.5 to 2.5 cm (median, 2 cm). Treatment was well tolerated. After 2 months, an objective response was observed in 12/19 (63%) patients, complete in 8 (42%). One-year LPFS within treatment field was 68%. Local symptom improvement included palliation of bleeding (5/19 patients) and pain relief (6/19 patients).
Conclusions:
Electrochemotherapy may represent a new locoregional treatment for selected patients with superficial angiosarcomas. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:246-253. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Insights
Electrochemotherapy shows promise for treating superficial angiosarcomas, an aggressive vascular cancer. This skin-directed therapy demonstrated significant tumor response and improved local progression-free survival in a recent study.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Dermatology
- Surgical Oncology
Background:
- Angiosarcoma is an aggressive vascular neoplasm known for local recurrence.
- Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a skin-directed therapy with cytotoxic and antivascular effects.
- The efficacy of ECT in angiosarcoma treatment has not been previously investigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of electrochemotherapy in patients with superficial advanced angiosarcomas.
- To assess tumor response, local progression-free survival (LPFS), and toxicity of ECT in this patient cohort.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter retrospective analysis of patients treated with ECT from 2007 to 2014.
- Intravenous bleomycin administration followed by percutaneous electric pulses delivered to tumors.
- Tumor assessment using RECIST (version 1.1), toxicity evaluation (CTCAE, v4.0), and LPFS analysis.
Main Results:
- Nineteen patients with superficial advanced angiosarcomas (scalp, breast, skin, soft tissue) were treated.
- An objective response rate of 63% was observed, with 42% achieving a complete response after 2 months.
- One-year local progression-free survival was 68%, with notable palliation of bleeding and pain.
Conclusions:
- Electrochemotherapy is a well-tolerated and effective locoregional treatment option for selected patients with superficial angiosarcomas.
- ECT offers a potential new therapeutic strategy for managing this challenging malignancy.
- Further research is warranted to confirm these findings in larger prospective studies.
