Electrochemotherapy in the Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer: Current Conditions and Future Directions
Despite recent advances in the development of chemotherapeutic drug, treatment for advanced cancer of the head and neck cancer (HNC) is still challenging. Options are limited by multiple factors, such as a prior history of irradiation to the tumor site as well as functional limitations. Against this...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Cancers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/6/1418 |
| _version_ | 1797540649555197952 |
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| author | Tomohiro Enokida Makoto Tahara |
| author_facet | Tomohiro Enokida Makoto Tahara |
| author_sort | Tomohiro Enokida |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite recent advances in the development of chemotherapeutic drug, treatment for advanced cancer of the head and neck cancer (HNC) is still challenging. Options are limited by multiple factors, such as a prior history of irradiation to the tumor site as well as functional limitations. Against this background, electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a new modality which combines administration of an antineoplastic agent with locally applied electric pulses. These pulses allow the chemotherapeutic drug to penetrate the intracellular space of the tumor cells and thereby increase its cytotoxicity. ECT has shown encouraging efficacy and a tolerable safety profile in many clinical studies, including in heavily pre-treated HNC patients, and is considered a promising strategy. Efforts to improve its efficacy and broaden its application are now ongoing. Moreover, the combination of ECT with recently developed novel therapies, including immunotherapy, represented by immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)s, has attracted attention for its potent theoretical rationale. More extensive, well-organized clinical studies and timely updating of consensus guidelines will bring this hopeful treatment to HNC patients under challenging situations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:04:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c3048f39301d4d349d28d001e906fb32 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6694 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:04:11Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancers |
| spelling | doaj.art-c3048f39301d4d349d28d001e906fb322023-11-21T11:15:08ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942021-03-01136141810.3390/cancers13061418Electrochemotherapy in the Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer: Current Conditions and Future DirectionsTomohiro Enokida0Makoto Tahara1Department of Head and Neck Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, 6-5-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa 277-8577, JapanDepartment of Head and Neck Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, 6-5-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa 277-8577, JapanDespite recent advances in the development of chemotherapeutic drug, treatment for advanced cancer of the head and neck cancer (HNC) is still challenging. Options are limited by multiple factors, such as a prior history of irradiation to the tumor site as well as functional limitations. Against this background, electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a new modality which combines administration of an antineoplastic agent with locally applied electric pulses. These pulses allow the chemotherapeutic drug to penetrate the intracellular space of the tumor cells and thereby increase its cytotoxicity. ECT has shown encouraging efficacy and a tolerable safety profile in many clinical studies, including in heavily pre-treated HNC patients, and is considered a promising strategy. Efforts to improve its efficacy and broaden its application are now ongoing. Moreover, the combination of ECT with recently developed novel therapies, including immunotherapy, represented by immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)s, has attracted attention for its potent theoretical rationale. More extensive, well-organized clinical studies and timely updating of consensus guidelines will bring this hopeful treatment to HNC patients under challenging situations.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/6/1418electrochemotherapycisplatinbleomycinhead and neck cancerimmunotherapyquality of life |
| spellingShingle | Tomohiro Enokida Makoto Tahara Electrochemotherapy in the Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer: Current Conditions and Future Directions Cancers electrochemotherapy cisplatin bleomycin head and neck cancer immunotherapy quality of life |
| title | Electrochemotherapy in the Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer: Current Conditions and Future Directions |
| title_full | Electrochemotherapy in the Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer: Current Conditions and Future Directions |
| title_fullStr | Electrochemotherapy in the Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer: Current Conditions and Future Directions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Electrochemotherapy in the Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer: Current Conditions and Future Directions |
| title_short | Electrochemotherapy in the Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer: Current Conditions and Future Directions |
| title_sort | electrochemotherapy in the treatment of head and neck cancer current conditions and future directions |
| topic | electrochemotherapy cisplatin bleomycin head and neck cancer immunotherapy quality of life |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/6/1418 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tomohiroenokida electrochemotherapyinthetreatmentofheadandneckcancercurrentconditionsandfuturedirections AT makototahara electrochemotherapyinthetreatmentofheadandneckcancercurrentconditionsandfuturedirections |