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Russano F, Rastrelli M, Dall'Olmo L, Del Fiore P, Gianesini C, Vecchiato A, Mazza M, Tropea S, Mocellin S. Therapeutic Treatment Options for In-Transit Metastases from Melanoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:3065. [PMID: 39272923 PMCID: PMC11394241 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16173065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2024] [Revised: 08/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
In-transit metastases (ITM) in melanoma present a significant therapeutic challenge due to their advanced stage and complex clinical nature. From traditional management with surgical resection, ITM treatment has evolved with the advent of systemic therapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapies, which have markedly improved survival outcomes. This study aims to review and highlight the efficacy of both systemic and locoregional treatment approaches for ITM. Methods include a comprehensive review of clinical studies examining the impact of treatments like immune checkpoint inhibitors, targeted therapies, Isolated Limb Perfusion, and electrochemotherapy. The results indicate that combining systemic therapies with locoregional treatments enhances both local disease control and overall survival rates. The introduction of modern immunotherapies has not diminished the effectiveness of locoregional therapies but rather improved patient outcomes when used in conjunction. The conclusions emphasize that a multidisciplinary approach integrating systemic and locoregional therapies offers a promising strategy for optimizing the management of ITM in melanoma patients. This integrated treatment model not only improves survival rates but also enhances the quality of life for patients, suggesting a shift in standard care practices toward more comprehensive therapeutic regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Russano
- Soft-Tissue, Peritoneum and Melanoma Surgical Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Marco Rastrelli
- Soft-Tissue, Peritoneum and Melanoma Surgical Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padova, Italy
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Gastroenterological Sciences (DISCOG), University of Padua, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Luigi Dall'Olmo
- Soft-Tissue, Peritoneum and Melanoma Surgical Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padova, Italy
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Gastroenterological Sciences (DISCOG), University of Padua, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Paolo Del Fiore
- Soft-Tissue, Peritoneum and Melanoma Surgical Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Carlomaria Gianesini
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Gastroenterological Sciences (DISCOG), University of Padua, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Antonella Vecchiato
- Soft-Tissue, Peritoneum and Melanoma Surgical Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Marcodomenico Mazza
- Soft-Tissue, Peritoneum and Melanoma Surgical Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Saveria Tropea
- Soft-Tissue, Peritoneum and Melanoma Surgical Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Simone Mocellin
- Soft-Tissue, Peritoneum and Melanoma Surgical Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padova, Italy
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Gastroenterological Sciences (DISCOG), University of Padua, 35128 Padova, Italy
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Mickevičiūtė E, Radzevičiūtė-Valčiukė E, Malyško-Ptašinskė V, Malakauskaitė P, Lekešytė B, Rembialkowska N, Kulbacka J, Tunikowska J, Novickij J, Novickij V. The Effects of Bipolar Cancellation Phenomenon on Nano-Electrochemotherapy of Melanoma Tumors: In Vitro and In Vivo Pilot. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:9338. [PMID: 39273287 PMCID: PMC11395067 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25179338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2024] [Revised: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
The phenomenon known as bipolar cancellation is observed when biphasic nanosecond electric field pulses are used, which results in reduced electroporation efficiency when compared to unipolar pulses of the same parameters. Basically, the negative phase of the bipolar pulse diminishes the effect of the positive phase. Our study aimed to investigate how bipolar cancellation affects Ca2+ electrochemotherapy and cellular response under varying electric field intensities and pulse durations (3-7 kV/cm, 100, 300, and 500 ns bipolar 1 MHz repetition frequency pulse bursts, n = 100). As a reference, standard microsecond range parametric protocols were used (100 µs × 8 pulses). We have shown that the cancellation effect is extremely strong when the pulses are closely spaced (1 MHz frequency), which results in a lack of cell membrane permeabilization and consequent failure of electrochemotherapy in vitro. To validate the observations, we have performed a pilot in vivo study where we compared the efficacy of monophasic (5 kV/cm × ↑500 ns × 100) and biphasic sequences (5 kV/cm × ↑500 ns + ↓500 ns × 100) delivered at 1 MHz frequency in the context of Ca2+ electrochemotherapy (B16-F10 cell line, C57BL/6 mice, n = 24). Mice treated with bipolar pulses did not exhibit prolonged survival when compared to the untreated control (tumor-bearing mice); therefore, the bipolar cancellation phenomenon was also occurrent in vivo, significantly impairing electrochemotherapy. At the same time, the efficacy of monophasic nanosecond pulses was comparable to 1.4 kV/cm × 100 µs × 8 pulses sequence, resulting in tumor reduction following the treatment and prolonged survival of the animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eglė Mickevičiūtė
- Department of Immunology and Bioelectrochemistry, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Faculty of Electronics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Eivina Radzevičiūtė-Valčiukė
- Department of Immunology and Bioelectrochemistry, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Faculty of Electronics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | | | - Paulina Malakauskaitė
- Department of Immunology and Bioelectrochemistry, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Faculty of Electronics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Barbora Lekešytė
- Department of Immunology and Bioelectrochemistry, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Faculty of Electronics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Nina Rembialkowska
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Julita Kulbacka
- Department of Immunology and Bioelectrochemistry, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Joanna Tunikowska
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Jurij Novickij
- Faculty of Electronics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Vitalij Novickij
- Department of Immunology and Bioelectrochemistry, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Faculty of Electronics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
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Carpenè S, Silvestri B, Bertinazzi M, Armato E, Amadori M, Spinato R, de Terlizzi F, Azzarello G. Electrochemotherapy as adjuvant treatment in a sinonasal mucosal melanoma in elderly patient: a case report. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2024; 281:3853-3858. [PMID: 38634895 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-024-08606-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sinonasal Mucosal Melanoma (SNMM) is a rare but aggressive disease. Surgery with free margins, when feasible, is the treatment of choice. In the last three decades, electrochemotherapy (ECT) has emerged as a local ablative procedure, performed with the Cliniporator, for cutaneous and mucosal tumours of different histology. We present a case report of an ECT treatment performed by means of a new endoscopic electrode, on an elderly patient affected by primary SNMM. METHODS An 88-year-old man with a diagnosis of SNMM (cT4aN0M0)-Stage IV, of the left nasal fossa presented at our institution. Symptoms were epistaxis and complete left nasal obstruction. He refused sinonasal extended surgery and radiotherapy. He underwent a tumor debulking followed by ECT exclusively for symptom control, with palliative intent. RESULTS The patient underwent SNMM debulking under general anaesthesia, followed by ECT on tumour margins. After the procedure, he had been free from symptoms for 5 months, with a good quality of life. Local recurrence was controlled with a new local debulking and ECT procedure on margins. The patient remained symptom free for the next 4 months. Seventeen months after diagnosis, the patient is mild symptomatic for sinonasal disease. Therefore, he developed a systemic disease progression. CONCLUSIONS In our experience, ECT can be used as an adjuvant tool for symptom and local control in SNMM when extended surgery is out of curative intent or unfeasible. As expected, ECT does not appear to have any effect on systemic disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Carpenè
- Otolaryngology Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale Socio Sanitaria (AULSS) 3 Serenissima - Ospedale di Mirano, Venice, Italy
| | - Barbara Silvestri
- Oncology and Haematology Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale Socio Sanitaria (AULSS) 3 Serenissima - Ospedale di Mirano, Venice, Italy.
| | - Martina Bertinazzi
- Otolaryngology Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale Socio Sanitaria (AULSS) 3 Serenissima - Ospedale di Mirano, Venice, Italy
| | - Enrico Armato
- Otolaryngology Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale Socio Sanitaria (AULSS) 3 Serenissima - Ospedale di Mirano, Venice, Italy
| | - Maurizio Amadori
- Otolaryngology Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale Socio Sanitaria (AULSS) 3 Serenissima - Ospedale di Mirano, Venice, Italy
| | - Roberto Spinato
- Otolaryngology Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale Socio Sanitaria (AULSS) 3 Serenissima - Ospedale di Mestre, Venice, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Azzarello
- Oncology and Haematology Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale Socio Sanitaria (AULSS) 3 Serenissima - Ospedale di Mirano, Venice, Italy
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Gschnell M, Volberg C, Hauser C, Krönig L. Cutaneous metastases: From epidemiology to therapy. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2024; 22:974-993. [PMID: 38888379 DOI: 10.1111/ddg.15342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Cutaneous metastases are seen in up to 10% of all oncology patients and can occur in different locations depending on the entity. Cutaneous metastases are often associated with a high psychological burden and, especially in the case of exulceration, with shame and social withdrawal. This review discusses the diagnostic and therapeutic options. The most common tumor entities in which cutaneous metastases are observed are discussed, and local and systemic treatment options are presented according to the current state of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Gschnell
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Hospital of Marburg, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Christian Volberg
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, University Hospital of Marburg, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Research Group Medical Ethics, Department of Human Medicine, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Christina Hauser
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Hospital of Marburg, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Lisa Krönig
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Hospital of Marburg, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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Ahmad MU, Walsh A, Kirane A. Review of Role of Surgery with Electroporation in Melanoma: Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, and Gene Delivery. J Clin Med 2024; 13:3828. [PMID: 38999394 PMCID: PMC11242408 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13133828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Electroporation with chemotherapy (ECT) is currently offered as a treatment in Europe for locoregional or metastatic melanoma with cutaneous lesions. However, the role of surgery and other forms of electroporation in melanoma requires further evaluation. Two reviewers used two databases to conduct a literature search and review, and 51 publications related to electroporation with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or gene delivery were found. ECT appears to be effective in reducing tumor burden for surgical resection, replacing surgical intervention with evidence of complete regression in some lesions, and inducing both local and systemic immune effects. These immune effects are pronounced when ECT is combined with immunotherapy, with a statistically significant improvement in overall survival (OS). Other forms of electroporation, such as those using calcium chloride, an IL-12 plasmid, and vaccination, require further study. However, IL-12 plasmid electroporation may be inferior to ECT based on the evidence available. Furthermore, irradiation of the tumor prior to ECT treatment is negatively correlated with local response. Access to ECT is restricted in the US and requires further evaluation. More randomized controlled trials of ECT and electroporation treatment in locoregional melanoma are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Usman Ahmad
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA;
| | - Allyson Walsh
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego Health, San Diego, CA 92103, USA;
| | - Amanda Kirane
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA;
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Zdzienicki M, Ziętek M, Krotewicz M, Ewert-Krzemieniewska A, Rutkowski P. The Long-Term Results of Electrochemotherapy in the Treatment of Patients with Locoregionally Advanced, Unresectable Melanoma. J Clin Med 2024; 13:3705. [PMID: 38999271 PMCID: PMC11242858 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13133705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2024] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Despite observing progress in recent years in the treatment of patients with advanced melanoma, the optimal management of locoregional recurrence has not been determined. Various methods are used to treat this group of patients. One of these methods is electrochemotherapy. The present study presents the distant results in treating patients with the locoregional recurrence of melanoma, using the technique of electrochemotherapy. Methods: This study includes a retrospective analysis of 88 patients' data with locoregional melanoma recurrence, treated with electrochemotherapy (ECT) between 2010 and 2023, in two reference centers. Results: Approximately 80% of patients responded to the ECT treatment, achieving partial or complete remission. In a multivariate analysis, statistically significant longer overall survival was found in the group of patients who achieved complete remission after ECT and were treated with immunotherapy. Discussion: The results may suggest the existence of synergy between ECT and immunotherapy. However, confirmation of this fact requires further prospective studies that will also establish the role of ECT in the combination treatment of patients with locoregional recurrence of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Zdzienicki
- Department of Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcomas and Melanomas, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology in Warsaw, 02-791 Warszawa, Poland
| | - Marcin Ziętek
- Department of Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, 53-413 Wrocław, Poland;
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Lower Silesian Oncology, Pulmonology and Hematology Center, 53-413 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Maria Krotewicz
- Department of Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcomas and Melanomas, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology in Warsaw, 02-791 Warszawa, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Ewert-Krzemieniewska
- Department of Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcomas and Melanomas, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology in Warsaw, 02-791 Warszawa, Poland
| | - Piotr Rutkowski
- Department of Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcomas and Melanomas, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology in Warsaw, 02-791 Warszawa, Poland
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7
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Duncan JL, Ahmad RN, Danesi H, Slade DJ, Davalos RV, Verbridge SS. Electro-antibacterial therapy (EAT) to enhance intracellular bacteria clearance in pancreatic cancer cells. Bioelectrochemistry 2024; 157:108669. [PMID: 38377890 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2024.108669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Intratumoral bacteria have been implicated in driving tumor progression, yet effective treatments to modulate the tumor microbiome remain limited. In this study, we investigate the use of electroporation in combination with metronidazole to enhance the clearance of intracellular Fusobacterium nucleatum within pancreatic cancer cells. We explore various parameters, including electric field strength, pulse width, and pulse number to assess the permeability of pancreatic cancer cells infected with F. nucleatum, compared to non-infected cells of the same type. We subsequently quantify the clearance of intracellular bacteria when these pulsing schemes are applied to a suspension of infected pancreatic cancer cells in the presence of metronidazole. Our results reveal distinct differences in cell permeability between infected and non-infected cells, identifying a unique biophysical marker for host cells infected with F. nucleatum. We demonstrate that the combinatorial use of electroporation and metronidazole significantly enhances the delivery of metronidazole into host cells, leading to more effective clearance of intracellular F. nucleatum compared to independent treatments; we term this novel approach Electro-Antibacterial Therapy (EAT). EAT holds promise as an innovative strategy for addressing intratumoral bacteria in pancreatic cancer, other malignancies, and potentially treatment-resistant infections, offering new avenues for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josie L Duncan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA; Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech - Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Raffae N Ahmad
- Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Hunter Danesi
- Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Daniel J Slade
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Rafael V Davalos
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA; Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech - Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
| | - Scott S Verbridge
- Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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Hadzialjevic B, Omerzel M, Trotovsek B, Cemazar M, Jesenko T, Sersa G, Djokic M. Electrochemotherapy combined with immunotherapy - a promising potential in the treatment of cancer. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1336866. [PMID: 38292489 PMCID: PMC10825954 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1336866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Electrochemotherapy is a novel, locoregional therapy that is used to treat cutaneous and deep-seated tumors. The electric pulses used in electrochemotherapy increase the permeability of the cell membranes of the target lesion and thus enhance the delivery of low-permeant cytotoxic drugs to the cells, leading to their death. It has also been postulated that electrochemotherapy acts as an in situ vaccination by inducing immunogenic cell death. This in turn leads to an enhanced systemic antitumor response, which could be further exploited by immunotherapy. However, only a few clinical studies have investigated the role of combined treatment in patients with melanoma, breast cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. In this review, we therefore aim to review the published preclinical evidence on combined treatment and to review clinical studies that have investigated the combined role of electrochemotherapy and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Hadzialjevic
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Masa Omerzel
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Blaz Trotovsek
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Maja Cemazar
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, Izola, Slovenia
| | - Tanja Jesenko
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Gregor Sersa
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Mihajlo Djokic
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Egeland C, Balsevicius L, Gögenur I, Gehl J, Baeksgaard L, Garbyal RS, Achiam MP. Calcium electroporation of esophageal cancer induces gene expression changes: a sub-study of a phase I clinical trial. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023; 149:16031-16042. [PMID: 37688629 PMCID: PMC10620256 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-05357-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE In this study, we aim to investigate gene expression changes in tumor samples obtained from patients with esophageal cancer treated with calcium electroporation. Previously, local treatment with calcium electroporation has been shown to induce gene expression alterations, potentially contributing to a more tumor-hostile microenvironment. METHODS In this sub-study of a phase I clinical trial, we included five patients with esophageal cancer treated with calcium electroporation. We compared cancer-associated gene expression patterns in tumor samples before and after treatment. Furthermore, we used linear support vector regression to predict the cellular composition of tumor samples. RESULTS Using differential expression analysis, we identified the downregulation of CXCL14 and upregulation of CCL21, ANGPTL4, and CRABP2 genes. We also found a decreased predicted proportion of dendritic cells while the proportion of neutrophils was increased. CONCLUSION This study provides evidence that calcium electroporation for esophageal cancer induces local transcriptional changes and possibly alters the cellular composition of the tumor microenvironment. The results are explorative, larger studies are needed to confirm and further correlate our findings with clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Egeland
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Lukas Balsevicius
- Center for Surgical Science, Department of Surgery, Zealand University Hospital, Koege, Denmark
- Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ismail Gögenur
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Center for Surgical Science, Department of Surgery, Zealand University Hospital, Koege, Denmark
| | - Julie Gehl
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Oncology and Palliative Care, Center for Experimental Drug and Gene Electrotransfer (C*EDGE), Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Lene Baeksgaard
- Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rajendra Singh Garbyal
- Department of Pathology, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Patrick Achiam
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Kispál M, Czirbesz K, Baranyai F, Balatoni T, Liszkay G. [Electrochemotherapy in metastatic melanoma]. Orv Hetil 2023; 164:1381-1386. [PMID: 37660345 DOI: 10.1556/650.2023.32849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In metastatic melanoma, despite the increased survival rates with new innovative therapies, therapeutic response is still quite heterogenous, not always durable. In the case of oligoprogression, several additional therapeutic modalities are available such as electrochemotherapy in the local treatment of cutaneous or subcutaneous metastases. OBJECTIVE Analysis of our experiences with electrochemotherapy in patients with metastatic melanoma. METHOD AND RESULTS 23 patients with metastatic melanoma (10 male and 13 female) were treated with electrochemotherapy, between 2016 and 2021 in our Institute. Median age was 74.5 years. The location of metastases varied. 13 of our patients (57%) had metastases on the lower limbs, in 5 cases (22%) metastases were located in the head and neck region, in 4 cases (17%) on the upper limbs, and one (4%) patient received electrochemotherapy for metastases located on the chest. Prior to electrochemotherapy, 7 patients (30%) received chemotherapy, 6 patients (26%) were treated with immunotherapy and 2 patients (9%) received targeted therapy, while electrochemotherapy was first-line treatment for 8 patients (35%). Complete remission was achieved in 12 cases (52%), and partial remission in 6 cases (26%). In 1 case (4%) stable disease was observed, and in 4 patients (35%) progression was detected. We continued the previous systemic therapy which was effective in other localizations after the electrochemotherapy in 8 patients (35%) and in the case of 4 patients (17%) no further systemic therapy was needed. Side effects were observed in 8 patients (35%), 1 had severity of G3. CONCLUSION Electrochemotherapy in melanoma results in effective local tumor control, improved quality of life, and survival advantage in most of the patients, with tolerable side effects. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(35): 1381-1386.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihály Kispál
- 1 Országos Onkológiai Intézet, Onkodermatológiai Osztály Budapest, Ráth György u. 7-9., 1122 Magyarország
- 2 Nemzeti Tumorbiológiai Laboratórium Budapest Magyarország
| | - Kata Czirbesz
- 1 Országos Onkológiai Intézet, Onkodermatológiai Osztály Budapest, Ráth György u. 7-9., 1122 Magyarország
| | - Fanni Baranyai
- 1 Országos Onkológiai Intézet, Onkodermatológiai Osztály Budapest, Ráth György u. 7-9., 1122 Magyarország
| | - Tímea Balatoni
- 1 Országos Onkológiai Intézet, Onkodermatológiai Osztály Budapest, Ráth György u. 7-9., 1122 Magyarország
| | - Gabriella Liszkay
- 1 Országos Onkológiai Intézet, Onkodermatológiai Osztály Budapest, Ráth György u. 7-9., 1122 Magyarország
- 2 Nemzeti Tumorbiológiai Laboratórium Budapest Magyarország
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Pelka S, Guha C. Enhancing Immunogenicity in Metastatic Melanoma: Adjuvant Therapies to Promote the Anti-Tumor Immune Response. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2245. [PMID: 37626741 PMCID: PMC10452223 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11082245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Advanced melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer characterized by low survival rates. Less than 50% of advanced melanoma patients respond to current therapies, and of those patients that do respond, many present with tumor recurrence due to resistance. The immunosuppressive tumor-immune microenvironment (TIME) remains a major obstacle in melanoma therapy. Adjuvant treatment modalities that enhance anti-tumor immune cell function are associated with improved patient response. One potential mechanism to stimulate the anti-tumor immune response is by inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD) in tumors. ICD leads to the release of damage-associated molecular patterns within the TIME, subsequently promoting antigen presentation and anti-tumor immunity. This review summarizes relevant concepts and mechanisms underlying ICD and introduces the potential of non-ablative low-intensity focused ultrasound (LOFU) as an immune-priming therapy that can be combined with ICD-inducing focal ablative therapies to promote an anti-melanoma immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Pelka
- Department of Development and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA;
| | - Chandan Guha
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Department of Urology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Institute of Onco-Physics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
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12
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Ascierto PA, Agarwala SS, Warner AB, Ernstoff MS, Fox BA, Gajewski TF, Galon J, Garbe C, Gastman BR, Gershenwald JE, Kalinski P, Krogsgaard M, Leidner RS, Lo RS, Menzies AM, Michielin O, Poulikakos PI, Weber JS, Caracò C, Osman I, Puzanov I, Thurin M. Perspectives in Melanoma: meeting report from the Melanoma Bridge (December 1st-3rd, 2022-Naples, Italy). J Transl Med 2023; 21:508. [PMID: 37507765 PMCID: PMC10375730 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04325-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Outcomes for patients with melanoma have improved over the past decade with the clinical development and approval of immunotherapies targeting immune checkpoint receptors such as programmed death-1 (PD-1), programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) or cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4). Combinations of these checkpoint therapies with other agents are now being explored to improve outcomes and enhance benefit-risk profiles of treatment. Alternative inhibitory receptors have been identified that may be targeted for anti-tumor immune therapy, such as lymphocyte-activation gene-3 (LAG-3), as have several potential target oncogenes for molecularly targeted therapy, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Unfortunately, many patients still progress and acquire resistance to immunotherapy and molecularly targeted therapies. To bypass resistance, combination treatment with immunotherapies and single or multiple TKIs have been shown to improve prognosis compared to monotherapy. The number of new combinations treatment under development for melanoma provides options for the number of patients to achieve a therapeutic benefit. Many diagnostic and prognostic assays have begun to show clinical applicability providing additional tools to optimize and individualize treatments. However, the question on the optimal algorithm of first- and later-line therapies and the search for biomarkers to guide these decisions are still under investigation. This year, the Melanoma Bridge Congress (Dec 1st-3rd, 2022, Naples, Italy) addressed the latest advances in melanoma research, focusing on themes of paramount importance for melanoma prevention, diagnosis and treatment. This included sessions dedicated to systems biology on immunotherapy, immunogenicity and gene expression profiling, biomarkers, and combination treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo A Ascierto
- Department of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapy, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", Naples, Italy.
| | | | | | - Marc S Ernstoff
- ImmunoOncology Branch (IOB), Developmental Therapeutics Program, Cancer Therapy and Diagnosis Division, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Bernard A Fox
- Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Thomas F Gajewski
- Department of Pathology and Department of Medicine (Section of Hematology/Oncology), University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jérôme Galon
- INSERM, Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, 75006, Paris, France
- Centre de Recherche Des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Paris, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Paris, France
| | - Claus Garbe
- Center for Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, Eberhard Karls University, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Brian R Gastman
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Jeffrey E Gershenwald
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Pawel Kalinski
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Michelle Krogsgaard
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center and Department of Pathology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rom S Leidner
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Roger S Lo
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Alexander M Menzies
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Royal North Shore and Mater Hospitals, Sydney, Australia
| | - Olivier Michielin
- Department of Oncology, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Poulikos I Poulikakos
- The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Weber
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, a NCI-Funded Comprehensive Cancer Center, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Corrado Caracò
- Division of Surgery of Melanoma and Skin Cancer, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione Pascale" IRCCS, Naples, Italy
| | - Iman Osman
- Rudolf L, Baer, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Igor Puzanov
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Magdalena Thurin
- Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
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13
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Campana LG, Daud A, Lancellotti F, Arroyo JP, Davalos RV, Di Prata C, Gehl J. Pulsed Electric Fields in Oncology: A Snapshot of Current Clinical Practices and Research Directions from the 4th World Congress of Electroporation. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3340. [PMID: 37444450 PMCID: PMC10340685 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15133340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The 4th World Congress of Electroporation (Copenhagen, 9-13 October 2022) provided a unique opportunity to convene leading experts in pulsed electric fields (PEF). PEF-based therapies harness electric fields to produce therapeutically useful effects on cancers and represent a valuable option for a variety of patients. As such, irreversible electroporation (IRE), gene electrotransfer (GET), electrochemotherapy (ECT), calcium electroporation (Ca-EP), and tumour-treating fields (TTF) are on the rise. Still, their full therapeutic potential remains underappreciated, and the field faces fragmentation, as shown by parallel maturation and differences in the stages of development and regulatory approval worldwide. This narrative review provides a glimpse of PEF-based techniques, including key mechanisms, clinical indications, and advances in therapy; finally, it offers insights into current research directions. By highlighting a common ground, the authors aim to break silos, strengthen cross-functional collaboration, and pave the way to novel possibilities for intervention. Intriguingly, beyond their peculiar mechanism of action, PEF-based therapies share technical interconnections and multifaceted biological effects (e.g., vascular, immunological) worth exploiting in combinatorial strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca G. Campana
- Department of Surgery, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford Rd., Manchester M13 9WL, UK;
| | - Adil Daud
- Department of Medicine, University of California, 550 16 Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA;
| | - Francesco Lancellotti
- Department of Surgery, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford Rd., Manchester M13 9WL, UK;
| | - Julio P. Arroyo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (J.P.A.); (R.V.D.)
| | - Rafael V. Davalos
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (J.P.A.); (R.V.D.)
- Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Claudia Di Prata
- Department of Surgery, San Martino Hospital, 32100 Belluno, Italy;
| | - Julie Gehl
- Department of Clinical Oncology and Palliative Care, Zealand University Hospital, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark;
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1165 Copenhagen, Denmark
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14
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Di Prata C, Mascherini M, Ross AM, Silvestri B, Kis E, Odili J, Fabrizio T, Jones RP, Kunte C, Orlando A, Clover J, Kumar S, Russano F, Matteucci P, Muir T, Terlizzi FD, Gehl J, Grischke EM. Efficacy of Electrochemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients of Different Receptor Status: The INSPECT Experience. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3116. [PMID: 37370726 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15123116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Electrochemotherapy has been proven to be an efficient treatment for cutaneous metastases of various cancers. Data on breast cancer (BC) patients with cutaneous metastases were retrieved from the INSPECT database. Patients were divided by their receptor status: HER2+, HR+ (ER/PgR+), and TN (triple negative). Groups were similar for histological subtype and location of the nodules. Most patients were previously treated with surgery/systemic therapy/radiotherapy. We found no differences in the three groups in terms of response ratio (OR per patient 86% HER2+, 80% HR+, 76% TN, p = 0.8664). The only factor positively affecting the complete response rate in all groups was small tumor size (<3 cm, p = 0.0105, p = 0.0001, p = 0.0266, respectively). Local progression-free survival was positively impacted by the achievement of complete response in HER2+ (p = 0.0297) and HR+ (p = 0.0094), while overall survival was affected by time to local progression in all groups (p = 0.0065 in HER2+, p < 0.0001 in HR+, p = 0.0363 in TN). ECT treatment is equally effective among groups, despite different receptor status. Response and local tumor control seem to be better in multiple small lesions than in big armor-like lesions, suggesting that treating smaller, even multiple, lesions at the time of occurrence is more effective than treating bigger long-lasting armor-like cutaneous lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Di Prata
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology (DISCOG), University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Matteo Mascherini
- Department of Surgery, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Barbara Silvestri
- Oncology and Haematology Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale Socio Sanitaria (AULSS) 3 Serenissima-Mirano, 30035 Venice, Italy
| | - Erika Kis
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Joy Odili
- Department of Plastic Surgery, St. Georges University Hospitals NHS Trust, London SW17 0QT, UK
| | - Tommaso Fabrizio
- Unit of Plastic Surgery, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico della Basilicata (IRCCS-CROB), 85028 Rionero in Vulture, Italy
| | - Rowan Pritchard Jones
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk L39 4QP, UK
- Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK
| | - Christian Kunte
- Abteilung für Dermatochirurgie und Dermatologie, Artemed Fachklinik München, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Antonio Orlando
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK
| | - James Clover
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Cork University Hospital, T12 DC4A Cork, Ireland
- Cancer Reseach@UCC, University College Cork, T12 YN60 Cork, Ireland
| | - Siva Kumar
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Queen Victoria Hospital National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, East Grinstead RH19 3DZ, UK
| | - Francesco Russano
- Soft-Tissue, Peritoneum and Melanoma Surgical Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Paolo Matteucci
- Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Hull HU3 2JZ, UK
| | - Tobian Muir
- Department of Plastic Surgery, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough TS4 3BW, UK
| | | | - Julie Gehl
- Center for Experimental Drug and Gene Electrotransfer (C*EDGE), Department of Clinical Oncology and Palliative Care, Zealand University Hospital, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Eva-Maria Grischke
- Department of Gynecology, University Hospital of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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15
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Łapińska Z, Novickij V, Rembiałkowska N, Szewczyk A, Dubińska-Magiera M, Kulbacka J, Saczko J. The influence of asymmetrical bipolar pulses and interphase intervals on the bipolar cancellation phenomenon in the ovarian cancer cell line. Bioelectrochemistry 2023; 153:108483. [PMID: 37301162 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2023.108483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The application of negative polarity electrical pulse (↓) following positive polarity pulses (↑) may induce bipolar cancellation (BPC), a unique physiological response believed to be specific to nanosecond electroporation (nsEP). The literature lacks analysis of bipolar electroporation (BP EP) involving asymmetrical sequences composed of nanosecond and microsecond pulses. Moreover, the impact of interphase interval on BPC caused by such asymmetrical pulse needs consideration. In this study, the authors utilized the ovarian clear carcinoma cell line (OvBH-1) model to investigate the BPC with asymmetrical sequences. Cells were exposed to pulses delivered in 10-pulse bursts but as uni- or bipolar, symmetrical, or asymmetrical sequences with a duration of 600 ns or 10 µs and electric field strength equal to 7.0 or 1.8 kV/cm, respectively. It was shown that the asymmetry of pulses influences BPC. The obtained results have also been investigated in the context of calcium electrochemotherapy. The reduction of cell membrane poration, and cell survival have been observed following Ca2+ electrochemotherapy. The effects of interphase delays (1 and 10 µs) on the BPC phenomenon were reported. Our findings show that the BPC phenomenon can be controlled using pulse asymmetry or delay between the positive and negative polarity of the pulse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zofia Łapińska
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 211A, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Vitalij Novickij
- Institute of High Magnetic Fields, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, LT-03227 Vilnius, Lithuania; Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Santariškių 5, 08410 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Nina Rembiałkowska
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 211A, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Anna Szewczyk
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 211A, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Dubińska-Magiera
- Department of Animal Developmental Biology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Wroclaw, Sienkiewicza 21, 50-335 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Julita Kulbacka
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 211A, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland; Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Santariškių 5, 08410 Vilnius, Lithuania.
| | - Jolanta Saczko
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 211A, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
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16
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Muir T, Bertino G, Groselj A, Ratnam L, Kis E, Odili J, McCafferty I, Wohlgemuth WA, Cemazar M, Krt A, Bosnjak M, Zanasi A, Battista M, de Terlizzi F, Campana LG, Sersa G. Bleomycin electrosclerotherapy (BEST) for the treatment of vascular malformations. An International Network for Sharing Practices on Electrochemotherapy (InspECT) study group report. Radiol Oncol 2023; 57:141-149. [PMID: 37341196 DOI: 10.2478/raon-2023-0029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biomedical applications of electroporation are expanding out of the field of oncology into vaccination, treatment of arrhythmias and now in the treatment of vascular malformations. Bleomycin is a widely used sclerosing agent in the treatment of various vascular malformations. The application of electric pulses in addition to bleomycin enhances the effectiveness of the drug, as demonstrated by electrochemotherapy, which utilizes bleomycin in the treatment of tumors. The same principle is used in bleomycin electrosclerotherapy (BEST). The approach seems to be effective in the treatment of low-flow (venous and lymphatic) and, potentially, even high-flow (arteriovenous) malformations. Although there are only a few published reports to date, the surgical community is interested, and an increasing number of centers are applying BEST in the treatment of vascular malformations. Within the International Network for Sharing Practices on Electrochemotherapy (InspECT) consortium, a dedicated working group has been constituted to develop standard operating procedures for BEST and foster clinical trials. CONCLUSIONS By treatment standardization and successful completion of clinical trials demonstrating the effectiveness and safety of the approach, higher quality data and better clinical outcomes may be achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobian Muir
- Department of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
| | - Giulia Bertino
- Department of Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery, University of Pavia, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Ales Groselj
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Cervicofacial Surgery, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Lakshmi Ratnam
- Department of Interventional Radiology, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Erika Kis
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Joy Odili
- Department of Plastic Surgery, St. Georges University Hospitals NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ian McCafferty
- Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Walter A Wohlgemuth
- Universitätsklinik und Poliklinik für Radiologie, Universitätsmedizin Halle, Halle, Germany
| | - Maja Cemazar
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, Slovenia
| | - Aljosa Krt
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Izola General Hospital, Izola, Slovenia
| | - Masa Bosnjak
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | | | | | - Luca G Campana
- Department of Surgery, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Gregor Sersa
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Tellado M, De Robertis M, Montagna D, Giovannini D, Salgado S, Michinski S, Signori E, Maglietti F. Electrochemotherapy Plus IL-2+IL-12 Gene Electrotransfer in Spontaneous Inoperable Stage III-IV Canine Oral Malignant Melanoma. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1033. [PMID: 37376422 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11061033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a standard of care in veterinary and human oncology. The treatment induces a well-characterized local immune response which is not able to induce a systemic response. In this retrospective cohort study, we evaluated the addition of gene electrotransfer (GET) of canine IL-2 peritumorally and IL-12 intramuscularly to enhance the immune response. Thirty canine patients with inoperable oral malignant melanoma were included. Ten patients received ECT+GET as the treatment group, while twenty patients received ECT as the control group. Intravenous bleomycin for the ECT was used in both groups. All patients had compromised lymph nodes which were surgically removed. Plasma levels of interleukins, local response rate, overall survival, and progression-free survival were evaluated. The results show that IL-2 and IL-12 expression peaked around days 7-14 after transfection. Both groups showed similar local response rates and overall survival times. However, progression-free survival resulted significantly better in the ECT+GET group, which is a better indicator than overall survival, as it is not influenced by the criterion used for performing euthanasia. We can conclude that the combination of ECT+GET using IL-2 and IL-12 improves treatment outcomes by slowing down tumoral progression in stage III-IV inoperable canine oral malignant melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matías Tellado
- VetOncologia, Veterinary Oncology Clinic, Buenos Aires 1408, Argentina
| | - Mariangela De Robertis
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari 'A. Moro', 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Daniela Montagna
- Instituto de Medicina Experimental (IMEX-CONICET), Academia Nacional de Medicina, Buenos Aires 1425, Argentina
| | - Daniela Giovannini
- ENEA SSPT-TECS-TEB, Casaccia Research Center, Division of Health Protection Technology (TECS), Agenzia Nazionale per le Nuove Tecnologie, l'Energia e lo Sviluppo Economico Sostenibile (ENEA), 00123 Rome, Italy
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Experimental Oncology, Institute of Translational Pharmacology, CNR, Rome 0133, Italy
| | - Sergio Salgado
- CREOVet, Veterinary Oncology Clinic, Lima 04, Peru
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 31, Peru
| | - Sebastián Michinski
- Instituto de Física Interdsiciplinaria y Aplicada (INFINA), Facultad de Cs Exactas y Naturales, UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina
| | - Emanuela Signori
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Experimental Oncology, Institute of Translational Pharmacology, CNR, Rome 0133, Italy
| | - Felipe Maglietti
- Instituto Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Fundación Barceló-CONICET, Buenos Aires 1117, Argentina
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18
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Milicevic S, Cemazar M, Ivancic AK, Gasljevic G, Bosnjak M, Sersa G, Peric B. Electrochemotherapy of Melanoma Cutaneous Metastases in Organ Transplant Recipients: A Systematic Review of Preclinical and Clinical Studies. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098335. [PMID: 37176042 PMCID: PMC10179383 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma is a highly aggressive form of skin cancer. The development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has revolutionized the management of advanced melanoma, led to durable responses, and improved overall survival. However, the success of ICIs in melanoma treatment is influenced by the tumor microenvironment (TME) which plays a critical role in regulating the immune response to the tumor. Understanding the mechanisms underlying this interaction is crucial to optimizing the efficiency of ICIs. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) has been shown to enhance the efficacy of ICIs in melanoma treatment by inducing tumor cell death and facilitating the release of tumor antigens which can subsequently be recognized and targeted by the immune system. Moreover, ECT has been reported to modulate the TME, leading to increased infiltration of immune cells and a more favorable immunological profile. In this review, we summarize the available knowledge of changes in TME after ECT of melanoma cutaneous metastasis and highlight the differences in tumor-infiltrating immune cells between immunocompetent and immunosuppressed organisms. In addition, we showed that ECT can be an effective and safe procedure for organ transplant recipients. Furthermore, repeated ECT may enhance immune activation and probably induce a bystander effect by trained immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Milicevic
- Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska Cesta 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloska 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Maja Cemazar
- Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska Cesta 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, Polje 42, 6310 Izola, Slovenia
| | | | - Gorana Gasljevic
- Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska Cesta 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Masa Bosnjak
- Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska Cesta 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Askerceva Cesta 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Gregor Sersa
- Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska Cesta 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Zdravstvena Pot 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Barbara Peric
- Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska Cesta 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloska 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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19
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Kesar U, Markelc B, Jesenko T, Ursic Valentinuzzi K, Cemazar M, Strojan P, Sersa G. Effects of Electrochemotherapy on Immunologically Important Modifications in Tumor Cells. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11050925. [PMID: 37243029 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11050925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a clinically acknowledged method that combines the use of anticancer drugs and electrical pulses. Electrochemotherapy with bleomycin (BLM) can induce immunogenic cell death (ICD) in certain settings. However, whether this is ubiquitous over different cancer types and for other clinically relevant chemotherapeutics used with electrochemotherapy is unknown. Here, we evaluated in vitro in the B16-F10, 4T1 and CT26 murine tumor cell lines, the electrochemotherapy triggered changes in the ICD-associated damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs): Calreticulin (CRT), ATP, High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1), and four immunologically important cellular markers: MHCI, MHC II, PD-L1 and CD40. The changes in these markers were investigated in time up to 48 h after ECT. We showed that electrochemotherapy with all three tested chemotherapeutics induced ICD-associated DAMPs, but the induced DAMP signature was cell line and chemotherapeutic concentration specific. Similarly, electrochemotherapy with CDDP, OXA or BLM modified the expression of MHC I, MHC II, PD-L1 and CD40. The potential of electrochemotherapy to change their expression was also cell line and chemotherapeutic concentration specific. Our results thus put the electrochemotherapy with clinically relevant chemotherapeutics CDDP, OXA and BLM on the map of ICD inducing therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ursa Kesar
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Bostjan Markelc
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tanja Jesenko
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Katja Ursic Valentinuzzi
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Maja Cemazar
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, 6310 Izola, Slovenia
| | - Primoz Strojan
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute of Oncology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Gregor Sersa
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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20
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Advances of Electroporation-Related Therapies and the Synergy with Immunotherapy in Cancer Treatment. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10111942. [PMID: 36423037 PMCID: PMC9692484 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10111942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Electroporation is the process of instantaneously increasing the permeability of a cell membrane under a pulsed electric field. Depending on the parameters of the electric pulses and the target cell electrophysiological characteristics, electroporation can be either reversible or irreversible. Reversible electroporation facilitates the delivery of functional genetic materials or drugs to target cells, inducing cell death by apoptosis, mitotic catastrophe, or pseudoapoptosis; irreversible electroporation is an ablative technology which directly ablates a large amount of tissue without causing harmful thermal effects; electrotherapy using an electric field can induce cell apoptosis without any aggressive invasion. Reversible and irreversible electroporation can also activate systemic antitumor immune response and enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss recent progress related to electroporation, and summarize its latest applications. Further, we discuss the synergistic effects of electroporation-related therapies and immunotherapy. We also propose perspectives for further investigating electroporation and immunotherapy in cancer treatment.
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21
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Trotovsek B, Hadzialjevic B, Cemazar M, Sersa G, Djokic M. Laparoscopic electrochemotherapy for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: Technological advancement. Front Oncol 2022; 12:996269. [PMID: 36439427 PMCID: PMC9686426 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.996269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Electrochemotherapy is an effective treatment modality for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Electrochemotherapy for HCC was initially used in the setting of open surgery. Recently, with the development of newer electrodes, percutaneous approaches have also been performed. However, laparoscopic application of electrochemotherapy for HCC has not yet been described. Two patients with unresectable HCC were enrolled in the study. The first patient was not suitable for the percutaneous approach because the tumor was located close to the gallbladder. He also had symptomatic gallstones. The second patient had HCC in close proximity to the stomach and was therefore not suitable for percutaneous access or any other ablative technique. Thus, the laparoscopic approach was chosen, using newly developed Stinger electrodes for the application of electric pulses. After intravenous administration of bleomycin, several sets of electric pulses were delivered to the whole tumor mass in both patients. Ultrasonographically, the coverage of the whole tumor was verified, as described previously. Cholecystectomy was also performed in the first patient. Follow-up abdominal computed tomography showed a complete response of the treated lesions in both patients. Minimally invasive laparoscopic electrochemotherapy is safe, feasible and effective method for the treatment of HCC. It could be used in patients in whom the percutaneous approach is unsafe (proximity to other organs) and in patients with concomitant symptomatic gallstones in whom cholecystectomy is already indicated. This technological approach thus allows broader and minimally invasive clinical applicability of electrochemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blaz Trotovsek
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Benjamin Hadzialjevic
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Maja Cemazar
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, Izola, Slovenia
| | - Gregor Sersa
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Mihajlo Djokic
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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22
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Pisani S, Bertino G, Prina-Mello A, Locati LD, Mauramati S, Genta I, Dorati R, Conti B, Benazzo M. Electroporation in Head-and-Neck Cancer: An Innovative Approach with Immunotherapy and Nanotechnology Combination. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:5363. [PMID: 36358782 PMCID: PMC9658293 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14215363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignancy that arises in the head-and-neck district. Traditional treatment could be insufficient in case of recurrent and/or metastatic cancers; for this reason, more selective and enhanced treatments are in evaluation in preclinical and clinical trials to increase in situ concentration of chemotherapy drugs promoting a selectively antineoplastic activity. Among all cancer treatment types (i.e., surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy), electroporation (EP) has emerged as a safe, less invasive, and effective approach for cancer treatment. Reversible EP, using an intensive electric stimulus (i.e., 1000 V/cm) applied for a short time (i.e., 100 μs), determines a localized electric field that temporarily permealizes the tumor cell membranes while maintaining high cell viability, promoting cytoplasm cell uptake of antineoplastic agents such as bleomycin and cisplatin (electrochemotherapy), calcium (Ca2+ electroporation), siRNA and plasmid DNA (gene electroporation). The higher intracellular concentration of antineoplastic agents enhances the antineoplastic activity and promotes controlled tumor cell death (apoptosis). As secondary effects, localized EP (i) reduces the capillary blood flow in tumor tissue ("vascular lock"), lowering drug washout, and (ii) stimulates the immune system acting against cancer cells. After years of preclinical development, electrochemotherapy (ECT), in combination with bleomycin or cisplatin, is currently one of the most effective treatments used for cutaneous metastases and primary skin and mucosal cancers that are not amenable to surgery. To reach this clinical evidence, in vitro and in vivo models were preclinically developed for evaluating the efficacy and safety of ECT on different tumor cell lines and animal models to optimize dose and administration routes of drugs, duration, and intensity of the electric field. Improvements in reversible EP efficacy are under evaluation for HNSCC treatment, where the focus is on the development of a combination treatment between EP-enhanced nanotechnology and immunotherapy strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Pisani
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Viale Camillo Golgi, 19, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Giulia Bertino
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Viale Camillo Golgi, 19, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Adriele Prina-Mello
- LBCAM, Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland
- Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices (CRANN), Trinity College Dublin, DO2 W085 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Laura Deborah Locati
- Translational Oncology, IRCCS ICS Maugeri, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Simone Mauramati
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Viale Camillo Golgi, 19, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Ida Genta
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Rossella Dorati
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Bice Conti
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Marco Benazzo
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Viale Camillo Golgi, 19, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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23
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Bertino G, Groselj A, Campana LG, Kunte C, Schepler H, Gehl J, Muir T, Clover JAP, Quaglino P, Kis E, Mascherini M, Bisase B, Pecorari G, Bechara F, Matteucci P, Odili J, Russano F, Orlando A, Pritchard-Jones R, Moir G, Mowatt D, Silvestri B, Seccia V, Saxinger W, de Terlizzi F, Sersa G. Electrochemotherapy for the treatment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: The INSPECT experience (2008-2020). Front Oncol 2022; 12:951662. [PMID: 36203425 PMCID: PMC9531998 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.951662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is a frequent skin cancer with a high risk of recurrence characterized by tumor infiltration and, in advanced cases, a poor prognosis. ECT (electrochemotherapy) is an alternative treatment option for locally advanced or recurrent cSCC that is unsuitable for surgical resection. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the data in the InspECT (International Network for Sharing Practice on ECT) registry of the referral centers and to clarify the indications for the use of ECT as a treatment modality for cSCC. Materials and methods Patients with primary, recurrent or locally advanced cSCC from 18 European centers were included. They underwent at least one ECT session with bleomycin between February 2008 and November 2020, which was performed following the European Standard Operating Procedures. Results The analysis included 162 patients (mean age of 80 years; median, 1 lesion/patient). Side effects were mainly local and mild (hyperpigmentation, 11%; ulceration, 11%; suppuration, 4%). The response to treatment per patient was 62% complete and 21% partial. In the multivariate model, intravenous drug administration and small tumor size showed a significant association with a positive outcome (objective response). One-year local progression-free survival was significantly better (p<0.001) in patients with primary tumors (80% (95% C.I. 70%-90%) than in patients with locally advanced disease (49% (95% C.I. 30%-68%). Conclusion In the present study, ECT showed antitumor activity and a favorable safety profile in patients with complex cSCC for whom there was no widely accepted standard of care. Better results were obtained in primary and small tumors (<3 cm) using intravenous bleomycin administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Bertino
- Department of Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery, University of Pavia, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Ales Groselj
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Cervicofacial Surgery, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Luca G. Campana
- Department of Surgery, The Christie National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Christian Kunte
- Department of Dermatosurgery and Dermatology, Artemed Fachklinik Munich, München, Germany
| | - Hadrian Schepler
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Julie Gehl
- Center for Experimental Drug and Gene Electrotransfer (CEDGE), Department of Clinical Oncology and Palliative Care, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tobian Muir
- Department of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
| | - James A. P. Clover
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland
- Cancer Research @UCC, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Pietro Quaglino
- Dermatologic Clinic, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Erika Kis
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Matteo Mascherini
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Polyclinic Hospital San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Brian Bisase
- Clinic for Head and Neck Cancer, Queen Victoria Hospital National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, East Grinstead, United Kingdom
| | - Giancarlo Pecorari
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Otolaryngology Clinic, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Falk Bechara
- Department of Dermatologic Surgery, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Paolo Matteucci
- Dept Plastic Surgery, Hull University Teaching Hospitals National Health Service (NHS) Trust, Hull, United Kingdom
| | - Joy Odili
- Department of Plastic Surgery, St. Georges University Hospitals National Health Service (NHS) Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Francesco Russano
- Melanoma and Sarcoma Surgical Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Padova, Italy
| | - Antonio Orlando
- Southmead Hospital, North Bristol National Health Service (NHS) Trust, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Rowan Pritchard-Jones
- Plastic Reconstructive Surgery, University of Liverpool, St. Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals National Health Service (NHS) Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Graeme Moir
- Department of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, The Royal London Hospital & Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), Bart’s Health National Health Service (NHS) Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - David Mowatt
- Department of Surgery, Christie Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Barbara Silvestri
- Oncology and Haematology Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale Socio Sanitaria (AULSS) 3 Serenissima-Mirano, Venice, Italy
| | - Veronica Seccia
- Otorhinolaryngology Audiology and Phoniatric Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Werner Saxinger
- Department of Dermatology, Klinikum Wels-Grieskirchen, Wels, Austria
| | | | - Gregor Sersa
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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24
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Ascierto PA, Agarwala SS, Blank C, Caracò C, Carvajal RD, Ernstoff MS, Ferrone S, Fox BA, Gajewski TF, Garbe C, Grob JJ, Hamid O, Krogsgaard M, Lo RS, Lund AW, Madonna G, Michielin O, Neyns B, Osman I, Peters S, Poulikakos PI, Quezada SA, Reinfeld B, Zitvogel L, Puzanov I, Thurin M. Perspectives in Melanoma: meeting report from the Melanoma Bridge (December 2nd - 4th, 2021, Italy). J Transl Med 2022; 20:391. [PMID: 36058945 PMCID: PMC9440864 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03592-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in immune checkpoint and combination therapy have led to improvement in overall survival for patients with advanced melanoma. Improved understanding of the tumor, tumor microenvironment and tumor immune-evasion mechanisms has resulted in new approaches to targeting and harnessing the host immune response. Combination modalities with other immunotherapy agents, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, electrochemotherapy are also being explored to overcome resistance and to potentiate the immune response. In addition, novel approaches such as adoptive cell therapy, oncogenic viruses, vaccines and different strategies of drug administration including sequential, or combination treatment are being tested. Despite the progress in diagnosis of melanocytic lesions, correct classification of patients, selection of appropriate adjuvant and systemic theràapies, and prediction of response to therapy remain real challenges in melanoma. Improved understanding of the tumor microenvironment, tumor immunity and response to therapy has prompted extensive translational and clinical research in melanoma. There is a growing evidence that genomic and immune features of pre-treatment tumor biopsies may correlate with response in patients with melanoma and other cancers, but they have yet to be fully characterized and implemented clinically. Development of novel biomarker platforms may help to improve diagnostics and predictive accuracy for selection of patients for specific treatment. Overall, the future research efforts in melanoma therapeutics and translational research should focus on several aspects including: (a) developing robust biomarkers to predict efficacy of therapeutic modalities to guide clinical decision-making and optimize treatment regimens, (b) identifying mechanisms of therapeutic resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors that are potentially actionable, (c) identifying biomarkers to predict therapy-induced adverse events, and (d) studying mechanism of actions of therapeutic agents and developing algorithms to optimize combination treatments. During the Melanoma Bridge meeting (December 2nd-4th, 2021, Naples, Italy) discussions focused on the currently approved systemic and local therapies for advanced melanoma and discussed novel biomarker strategies and advances in precision medicine as well as the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on management of melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo A Ascierto
- Department of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapy, Istituto Nazionale Tumor IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", Naples, Italy.
| | - Sanjiv S Agarwala
- Hematology & Oncology, Temple University and Cancer Expert Now, Bethlehem, PA, USA
| | | | - Corrado Caracò
- Division of Surgery of Melanoma and Skin Cancer, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione Pascale" IRCCS, Naples, Italy
| | - Richard D Carvajal
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marc S Ernstoff
- Developmental Therapeutics Program, Division of Cancer Therapy & Diagnosis, NCI, Bethesda, NIHMD, USA
| | - Soldano Ferrone
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bernard A Fox
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Research Center, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Thomas F Gajewski
- Department of Pathology and Department of Medicine (Section of Hematology/Oncology), University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Claus Garbe
- Center for Dermato-Oncology, University-Department of Dermatology, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Jean-Jacques Grob
- Dermatology Department, Hopital de La Timone, Aix-Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Omid Hamid
- Medical Oncology, The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute, a Cedar-Sinai Affiliate, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michelle Krogsgaard
- New York Grossman School of Medicine, New York University Langone, New York, NY, USA
| | - Roger S Lo
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Amanda W Lund
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, Department of Pathology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gabriele Madonna
- Department of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapy, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - Olivier Michielin
- Precision Oncology Center and Melanoma Clinic, Oncology Department, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Bart Neyns
- Medical Oncology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Iman Osman
- New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Solange Peters
- UNIL, Medical Oncology Department European Thoracic Oncology Platform (ETOP), Specialized Thoracic Tumor Consultation, Oncology Department UNIL CHUV Thoracic Tumor Center, Lausanne University ESMO President, Scientific Coordinator, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Poulikos I Poulikakos
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Department of Dermatology Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, The Tisch Cancer Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sergio A Quezada
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Hematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Bradley Reinfeld
- Department of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Laurence Zitvogel
- Tumour Immunology and Immunotherapy of Cancer, European Academy of Tumor Immunology, Gustave Roussy, University Paris Saclay, INSERM, Villejuif Grand-Paris, France
| | - Igor Puzanov
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Magdalena Thurin
- Cancer Diagnosis Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, NCI, Rockville, NIHMD, USA
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Treatment of skin tumors with intratumoral interleukin 12 gene electrotransfer in the head and neck region: a first-in-human clinical trial protocol. Radiol Oncol 2022; 56:398-408. [PMID: 35535423 PMCID: PMC9400442 DOI: 10.2478/raon-2022-0021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune therapies are currently under intensive investigation providing in many cases excellent responses in different tumors. Other possible approach for immunotherapy is a targeted intratumoral delivery of interleukin 12 (IL-12), a cytokine with anti-tumor effectiveness. Due to its immunomodulatory action, it can be used as an imunostimulating component to in situ vaccinating effect of local ablative therapies. We have developed a phIL12 plasmid devoid of antibiotic resistance marker with a transgene for human IL-12 p70 protein. The plasmid can be delivered intratumorally by gene electrotransfer (GET). PATIENTS AND METHODS Here we present a first-in-human clinical trial protocol for phIL12 GET (ISRCTN15479959, ClinicalTrials NCT05077033). The study is aimed at evaluating the safety and tolerability of phIL12 GET in treatment of basal cell carcinomas in patients with operable tumors in the head and neck region. The study is designed as an exploratory, dose escalating study with the aim to determine the safety and tolerability of the treatment and to identify the dose of plasmid phIL12 that is safe and elicits its biological activity. CONCLUSIONS The results of this trail protocol will therefore provide the basis for the use of phIL12 GET as an adjuvant treatment to local ablative therapies, to potentially increase their local and elicit a systemic response.
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26
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Ottlakan A, Lazar G, Hideghety K, Renata Koszo L, Deak B, Nagy A, Besenyi Z, Bottyán K, Gabor Vass Z, Olah J, Erika Kis G. Clinical considerations of bleomycin based electrochemotherapy with Variable Electrode Geometry electrodes for inoperable, deep-seated soft tissue sarcomas. Bioelectrochemistry 2022; 148:108220. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2022.108220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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27
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Campana LG, Quaglino P, de Terlizzi F, Mascherini M, Brizio M, Spina R, Bertino G, Kunte C, Odili J, Matteucci P, MacKenzie Ross A, Schepler H, Clover JAP, Kis E. Health-related quality of life trajectories in melanoma patients after electrochemotherapy: real-world insights from the InspECT register. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2022; 36:2352-2363. [PMID: 35870122 DOI: 10.1111/jdv.18456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Electrochemotherapy (ECT) effectively controls skin metastases from cutaneous melanoma. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in melanoma patients pre-/post-ECT and its effect on treatment outcome. METHODS The analysis included prospective data from the International Network for Sharing Practices of ECT register. Following the Standard Operating Procedures, patients received intravenous or intratumoural bleomycin (15,000 IU/m2 ; 1000 IU mL/cm3 ) followed by 100-microsecond, 1000-V/cm electric pulses. Endpoints included response (RECIST v3.0), local progression-free survival (LPFS), toxicity (CTCAE v5.0), and patient-reported HRQoL at baseline, one, two, four and ten months (EuroQol [EQ-5D-3L], including 5-item utility score [EQ-5D] and visual analogue scale for self-reported health state [EQ-VAS]). Comparisons within/between subgroups were made for statistical and minimal important differences (MID). HRQoL scores and clinical covariates were analysed to identify predictors of response in multivariate analysis. RESULTS Median tumour size was 2 cm. Complete response rate, G3 toxicity and one-year LPFS in 378 patients (76% of the melanoma cohort) were 47%, 5%, and 78%. At baseline, age-paired HRQoL did not differ from the general European population. Following ECT, both EQ-5D and EQ-VAS scores remained within MID boundaries, particularly among complete responders. A subanalysis of the EQ-5D items revealed a statistically significant deterioration in pain/discomfort and mobility (restored within four months), and self-care and usual activities (throughout the follow-up) domains. Concomitant checkpoint inhibition correlated with better EQ-5D and EQ-VAS trajectories. Baseline EQ-5D was the exclusive independent predictor for complete response (RR 14.76, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS HRQoL of ECT melanoma patients parallels the general population and is preserved in complete responders. Transient deterioration in pain/discomfort and mobility and persistent decline in self-care and usual activities may warrant targeted support interventions. Combination with checkpoint inhibitors is associated with better QoL outcomes. Baseline HRQoL provides predictive information which can help identify patients most likely to respond.
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Affiliation(s)
- L G Campana
- Department of Surgery, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
- Department of Surgery, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - P Quaglino
- Dermatologic Clinic, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Italy
| | - F de Terlizzi
- Biophysics Department, IGEA S.p.A., 41012 Carpi, Modena, Italy
| | - M Mascherini
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Polyclinic Hospital San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - M Brizio
- Dermatologic Clinic, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Italy
| | - R Spina
- Psychology Unit, University Hospital of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - G Bertino
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery, Policlinico San Matteo Foundation IRCCS, Pavia University, Pavia, Italy
| | - C Kunte
- Department of Dermatosurgery and Dermatology, Artemed Fachklinik, Munich, Germany
| | - J Odili
- Department of Plastic Surgery, St. Georges University Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - P Matteucci
- Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Hull, UK
| | - A MacKenzie Ross
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, St Thomas' Hospital, UK
| | - H Schepler
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University KöR, Mainz, Germany
| | - J A P Clover
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland
- Cancer Research, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - E Kis
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Szeged, Hungary
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Electrochemotherapy of skin metastases from malignant melanoma: a PRISMA-compliant systematic review. Clin Exp Metastasis 2022; 39:743-755. [PMID: 35869314 PMCID: PMC9474499 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-022-10180-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
The main treatment of MM metastases are systemic therapies, surgery, limb perfusion, and intralesional talimogene laherparepvec. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is potentially useful also due to the high response rates recorded in cancers of any histology. No randomized studies comparing ECT with other local therapies have been published on this topic. We analyzed the available evidence on efficacy and toxicity of ECT in this setting. PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were screened for paper about ECT on MM skin metastases. Data about tumor response, mainly in terms of overall response rate (ORR), toxicity (both for ECT alone and in combination with systemic treatments), local control (LC), and overall survival (OS) were collected. The methodological quality was assessed using a 20-item validated quality appraisal tool for case series. Overall, 18 studies were included in our analysis. In studies reporting “per patient” tumor response the pooled complete response (CR) was 35.7% (95%CI 26.0–46.0%), and the pooled ORR was 80.6% (95%CI 68.7–90.1%). Regarding “per lesion” response, the pooled CR was 53.5% (95%CI 42.1–64.7%) and the pooled ORR was 77.0% (95%CI 56.0–92.6%). One-year LC rate was 80%, and 1-year OS was 67–86.2%. Pain (24.2–92.0%) and erythema (16.6–42.0%) were the most frequent toxicities. Two studies reported 29.2% and 41.6% incidence of necrosis. ECT is effective in terms of tumor response and tolerated in patients with skin metastases from MM, albeit with a wide variability of reported results. Therefore, prospective trials in this setting are warranted.
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Justesen TF, Orhan A, Raskov H, Nolsoe C, Gögenur I. Electroporation and Immunotherapy-Unleashing the Abscopal Effect. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14122876. [PMID: 35740542 PMCID: PMC9221311 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14122876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Electrochemotherapy and irreversible electroporation are primarily used for treating patients with cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors and pancreatic cancer, respectively. Increasing numbers of studies have shown that the treatments may elicit an immune response in addition to eliminating the tumor cells. The purpose of this review is to give an in-depth introduction to the electroporation-induced immune response and the local and peripheral immune systems, and to describe the various studies investigating the combination of electroporation and immunotherapy. The review may help guide and inspire the design of future clinical trials investigating the potential synergy of electroporation and immunotherapy in cancer treatment. Abstract The discovery of electroporation in 1968 has led to the development of electrochemotherapy (ECT) and irreversible electroporation (IRE). ECT and IRE have been established as treatments of cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors and locally advanced pancreatic cancer, respectively. Interestingly, the treatment modalities have been shown to elicit immunogenic cell death, which in turn can induce an immune response towards the tumor cells. With the dawn of the immunotherapy era, the potential of combining ECT and IRE with immunotherapy has led to the launch of numerous studies. Data from the first clinical trials are promising, and new combination regimes might change the way we treat tumors characterized by low immunogenicity and high levels of immunosuppression, such as melanoma and pancreatic cancer. In this review we will give an introduction to ECT and IRE and discuss the impact on the immune system. Additionally, we will present the results of clinical and preclinical trials, investigating the combination of electroporation modalities and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Freyberg Justesen
- Center for Surgical Science, Zealand University Hospital, Lykkebækvej 1, 4600 Køge, Denmark; (A.O.); (H.R.); (I.G.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Adile Orhan
- Center for Surgical Science, Zealand University Hospital, Lykkebækvej 1, 4600 Køge, Denmark; (A.O.); (H.R.); (I.G.)
| | - Hans Raskov
- Center for Surgical Science, Zealand University Hospital, Lykkebækvej 1, 4600 Køge, Denmark; (A.O.); (H.R.); (I.G.)
| | - Christian Nolsoe
- Center for Surgical Ultrasound, Department of Surgery, Zealand University Hospital, Lykkebækvej 1, 4600 Køge, Denmark;
- Copenhagen Academy for Medical Education and Simulation (CAMES), University of Copenhagen and the Capital Region of Denmark, Ryesgade 53B, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ismail Gögenur
- Center for Surgical Science, Zealand University Hospital, Lykkebækvej 1, 4600 Køge, Denmark; (A.O.); (H.R.); (I.G.)
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Landström FJ, Jakobsson FE, Kristiansson SJ. Successful electrochemotherapy treatment of a large bleeding lymph node melanoma metastasis. Melanoma Manag 2022; 9:MMT61. [PMID: 35813184 PMCID: PMC9260494 DOI: 10.2217/mmt-2021-0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the progress in immunotherapy and targeted therapy for patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma not all patients with loco-regional recurrences will respond to treatment. Electrochemotherapy is a relatively new treatment modality where the efficacy of a chemotherapeutic drug is enhanced by an electrical field. Here we report a case of a 68-year-old woman with a large therapy resistant inguinal lymph node melanoma metastasis complicated by bleeding that was successfully treated with electrochemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrik J Landström
- Department of Otolaryngology, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden.,Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
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31
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Electrochemotherapy and immune interactions; A boost to the system? EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY 2022; 48:1895-1900. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2022.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Petrelli F, Ghidini A, Simioni A, Campana LG. Impact of electrochemotherapy in metastatic cutaneous melanoma: a contemporary systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Oncol 2022; 61:533-544. [PMID: 34889156 DOI: 10.1080/0284186x.2021.2006776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Electrochemotherapy (ECT) harnesses electric pulses to enhance cytotoxic drug delivery into tumors and has entered the armamentarium to treat superficially metastatic melanoma. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess treatment patterns and patient outcomes. METHODS PubMed, Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases were queried for publication from inception to September 2020. Primary outcome measures were overall and complete response rate (ORR and CRR); secondary outcomes included local control rate (LCR) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS Twenty-seven studies met the selection criteria for a total of 1161 individuals (mean age 71 years) and 5308 tumors (weighted mean size 14 mm). The majority of patients (n = 1124) underwent bleomycin-ECT. Aggregate ORR was 77.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 71.0 - 83.2%) and CRR 48% (95% CI 42 - 54%), with no significant difference between the route of bleomycin administration (ORR, 69.2 vs. 81.9% following intravenous or intratumoral bleomycin, p = .37) and tumor size (p = .69). When reported (n = 8 studies), 1- and 2-year LCR ranged from 54 to 89% and 72 to 74%, respectively, and 1-year OS (n = 3 studies) from 67 to 89%. CONCLUSIONS ECT with either intratumoral or intravenous bleomycin confers a high therapeutic response in cutaneous metastatic melanoma. Moderate evidence supports its low toxicity and durability of local control.HighlightsElectrochemotherapy (ECT) is associated with a 77% overall response rate (ORR).Intravenous and intratumoral bleomycin are equally effective.There are no relevant toxicity concerns.One-year local tumor control rate ranges from 54 to 89%.Current literature has significant variation in reporting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Andrea Simioni
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Trotovšek B, Djokić M, Čemažar M, Serša G. New era of electrochemotherapy in treatment of liver tumors in conjunction with immunotherapies. World J Gastroenterol 2021; 27:8216-8226. [PMID: 35068866 PMCID: PMC8717013 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i48.8216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Electrochemotherapy is a local ablative therapy that increases the cytotoxicity of either bleomycin or cisplatin by applying electric pulses (electroporation) to tumors. It has already been widely used throughout Europe for the treatment of various types of human and veterinary cutaneous tumors, with an objective response rate ranging from 70%-90%, depending on the tumor histotype. Recently, electrochemotherapy was introduced for the treatment of primary liver tumors, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The complete response rate was 85% per treated lesion, with a durable response. Therefore, electrochemotherapy could become a treatment of choice for HCC, especially after achieving a transition from an open surgery approach to a percutaneous approach that uses dedicated electrodes. Electrochemotherapy elicits a local immune response and can be considered an in situ vaccination. HCC, among others, is a potentially immunogenic tumor; thus, electrochemotherapy could boost adjuvant immunotherapy to achieve a better and longer-lasting antitumor response. Therefore, therapeutic strategies that combine electrochemotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors or adjuvant treatment with cytokines are indicated for HCC. Immunogene therapy using electroporation as a delivery system for plasmid DNA coding for interleukin-12 is a highly promising approach. This electroporation approach has shown efficacy in preclinical settings and veterinary oncology and is awaiting translation for the treatment of liver tumors, i.e., HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blaž Trotovšek
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
- Medical Faculty Ljubljana, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
| | - Mihajlo Djokić
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
- Medical Faculty Ljubljana, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
| | - Maja Čemažar
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, Izola 6310, Slovenia
| | - Gregor Serša
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
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