Anorectal adenocarcinoma recurrence successfully treated with electrochemotherapy: a case report

Anticancer Drugs. 2020 Jan;31(1):73-75. doi: 10.1097/CAD.0000000000000838.

Abstract

Anal canal adenocarcinoma is generally treated like rectal cancer. Surgery is the standard treatment in early stages and neoadjuvant chemoradiation in locally advanced tumors. Local recurrences treatment paradigm often depends on the previous therapies of either surgery or radiotherapy or systemic therapy. We present the case of a patient with tubulovillous adenocarcinoma of the anal canal which relapsed after chemoradiation. The patient refused salvage surgery and was treated with definitive electrochemotherapy under general anesthesia. Tumor electroporation performed with the insertion of three needles in the recurred site was preceded by an intravenous bolus of bleomycin. After the administered treatment, the patient showed a complete clinical response. A year after electrochemotherapy, the patient is free from local disease with excellent preservation of the sphincter function. Electrochemotherapy may be considered as an alternative to surgery in small lesion in the anorectal region when other approaches are excluded.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Aged
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / administration & dosage
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / adverse effects
  • Capecitabine / administration & dosage*
  • Capecitabine / adverse effects
  • Electrochemotherapy / methods*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / drug therapy*
  • Rectal Neoplasms / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • Capecitabine