Author/Editor     Edhemović, Ibrahim; Brecelj, Erik; Gašljević, Gorana; Marolt-Mušič, Maja; Gorjup, Vojka; Mali, Barbara; Jarm, Tomaž; Kos, Bor; Pavliha, Denis; Grčar-Kuzmanov, Biljana; Čemažar, Maja; Snoj, Marko; Miklavčič, Damijan; Gadžijev, Eldar; Serša, Gregor
Title     Intraoperative electrochemotherapy of colorectal liver metastases
Type     članek
Vol. and No.     Letnik 110, št. 3
Publication year     2014
Volume     str. 320-327
ISSN     0022-4790 - Journal of surgical oncology
Language     eng
Abstract     BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Electrochemotherapy is effective in treatment of various cutaneous tumors and could be translated into treatment of deep-seated tumors. With this aim a prospective pilot study was conducted to evaluate feasibility, safety, and efficacy of intraoperative electrochemotherapy in the treatment of colorectal liver metastases. METHODS: Electrochemotherapy with bleomycin was performed during open surgery, by insertion of long needle electrodes into and around the tumor according to the individualized pretreatment plan. RESULTS: A 29 metastases in 16 patients were treated in 16 electrochemotherapy sessions. No immediate (intraoperative) and/or postoperative serious adverse events related to electrochemotherapy were observed. Radiological evaluation of all the treated metastases showed 85% complete responses and 15% partial responses. In a group of seven patients that underwent a second operation at 6-12 weeks after the first one, during which electrochemotherapy was performed, the histology of resected metastases treated by electrochemotherapy showed less viable tissue (P%=%0.001) compared to non-treated ones. CONCLUSIONS: Electrochemotherapy of colorectal liver metastases proved to be feasible, safe, and efficient treatment modality, providing its specific place in difficult to treat metastases, located in the vicinity of major hepatic vessels, not amenable to surgery or radiofrequency ablation.
Keywords     rak debelega črevesa
elektrokemoterapija
metastaze
neoperabilni rak
colorectal cancer
liver metastases
electrochemotherapy
intraoperative cancer