Outcomes of older adults aged 90 and over with cutaneous malignancies after electrochemotherapy with bleomycin: A matched cohort analysis from the InspECT registry

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Gregor Sersa
  • Matteo Mascherini
  • Claudia Di Prata
  • Joy Odili
  • Francesca de Terlizzi
  • Gordon A.G. McKenzie
  • A. James P. Clover
  • Giulia Bertino
  • Romina Spina
  • Ales Groselj
  • Rocco Cappellesso
  • Brian Bisase
  • Pietro Curatolo
  • Erika Kis
  • Valbona Lico
  • Tobian Muir
  • Antonio Orlando
  • Pietro Quaglino
  • Paolo Matteucci
  • Sara Valpione
  • Luca G. Campana

Background: With extending life expectancy, more people are diagnosed with cutaneous malignancies at advanced ages and are offered nonsurgical treatment. We assessed outcomes of the oldest-old adults after electrochemotherapy (ECT). Methods: The International Network for Sharing Practices of ECT (InspECT) registry was queried for adults aged ≥90 years (ys) with skin cancers/cutaneous metastases of any histotype who underwent bleomycin-ECT (2006–2019). These were subanalysed with patients aged <90 ys after matching 1:2 for tumor location, number, size, histotype, and previous treatments. We assessed ECT modalities, toxicity (CTCAE), response (RECIST), and patient perception (EQ-5D). Results: Sixty-one patients represented the study cohort (median 92 ys, range 92–104), 122 the control group (median 77 ys, range 23–89). Among the oldest-old, 44 patients (72%) had primary/recurrent skin cancers, 17 (28%) cutaneous metastases. Median tumour size was 15 mm (range, 5–450). The oldest-old adults underwent ECT mainly under local/regional anaesthesia (59% vs 39% p =.012). We observed no differences regarding dose and route of chemotherapy (intravenous vs intratumoral, p =.308), electrode geometry (linear vs hexagonal, p =.172) and procedural duration (18 vs 21 min, p =.378). Complete response (57.4 [95%-CI 44.1%–70.0%] vs 64.7% [95%-CI 55.6%–73.2%], p =.222) and 1-year local control (76.7% vs 81.7, p =.092) rates were comparable. Pain and skin hyperpigmentation were mild in both groups. Skin ulceration persisted longer in the oldest-old patients (4.4 vs 2.4 months, p =.008). Conclusions: The oldest-old adults with cutaneous malignancies undergo ECT most commonly under local/regional anaesthesia with safety profiles and clinical effectiveness similar to their younger counterparts, except in case of ulcerated tumors.

Original languageEnglish
JournalEuropean Journal of Surgical Oncology
Volume47
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)902-912
ISSN0748-7983
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

    Research areas

  • Bleomycin, Electrochemotherapy, Oldest-old adults with cancer, Skin cancer, Skin-directed therapies, Wound healing

ID: 253139093