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Electrochemotherapy for the palliative management of non-skin-origin head and neck cancer: case series and UK national survey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 October 2021

C McCaffer Open the ORCID record for C McCaffer [Opens in a new window] ,
B Y W Wong ,
C S Murugan ,
T Muir  and
S Lester
C McCaffer*
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK
B Y W Wong
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK
C S Murugan
Affiliation:
Department of Plastic Surgery, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK
T Muir
Affiliation:
Department of Plastic Surgery, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK
S Lester
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Mr Craig McCaffer, Department of ENT, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK E-mail: cmccaffer@nhs.net
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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.

Keywords

ElectrochemotherapyHead And Neck NeoplasmPalliative Care
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 136 , Issue 3 , March 2022 , pp. 256 - 260
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

Mr C McCaffer takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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