This protocol addresses locally advanced basal cell carcinoma (laBCC) — a category within advanced BCC that also includes metastatic disease. Locally advanced disease presents a management challenge when conventional interventions are not feasible or have limited applicability.
An electrochemotherapy-based approach is used in this setting, combining a chemotherapeutic agent with electrical permeabilisation to enhance intracellular drug delivery to tumour cells — demonstrating good tumour control with a favourable tolerability profile.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2023.113254
Advanced BCC includes locally advanced BCC (laBCC) and metastatic BCC (mBCC).
ECT can be used in the treatment of locally advanced or recurrent BCC when standard treatments are not feasible, with good tumour control and functional results without systemic adverse events.
ECT provides its antitumor effect through the permeabilisation of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents (bleomycin or cisplatin) by means of short, high-voltage, electric pulses which destabilise the cell membrane barrier allowing their intracellular access.