Electrochemotherapy as an adjunct or alternative to other treatments for unresectable or in-transit melanoma

References

• Bleyer A, Barr R, Ries LAG. Cancer Epidemiology in Older Adolescents and Young Adults 15 to 29 Years of Age, Including SEER Incidence and Survival: 1975–2000. National Cancer Institute, MD, USA (2006).
   Google Scholar
• Berwick M, Erdei E, Hay J. Melanoma epidemiology and public health. Dermatol. Clin.27(2), 205–214 (2009).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Glass LF, Fenske NA, Jaroszeski M et al. Bleomycin-mediated electrochemotherapy of basal cell carcinoma. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol.34(1), 82–86 (1996).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Yeatman TJ, Nicolson GL. Molecular basis of tumor progression: mechanisms of organ-specific tumor metastasis. Semin. Surg. Oncol.9(3), 256–263 (1993).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Hoekstra HJ. The European approach to in-transit melanoma lesions. Int. J. Hyperthermia24(3), 227–237 (2008).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Balch CM, Buzaid AC, Soong S-J et al. Final version of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system for cutaneous melanoma. J. Clin. Oncol.19(16), 3635–3648 (2001).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Karakousis CP, Choe KJ, Holyoke ED. Biologic behavior and treatment of intransit metastasis of melanoma. Surg. Gynecol. Obstet.150(1), 29–32 (1980).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Ross MI, Balch CM. The current management of cutaneous melanoma. Adv. Surg.24, 139–200 (1991).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Meier F, Will S, Ellwanger U et al. Metastatic pathways and time courses in the orderly progression of cutaneous melanoma. Br. J. Dermatol.147(1), 62–70 (2002).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Quaglino P, Mortera C, Osella-Abate S et al. Electrochemotherapy with intravenous bleomycin in the local treatment of skin melanoma metastases. Ann. Surg. Oncol.15(8), 2215–2222 (2008).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Gimbel MI, Delman KA, Zager JS. Therapy for unresectable recurrent and in-transit extremity melanoma. Cancer Control15(3), 225–232 (2008).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Balch CM, Soong SJ, Gershenwald JE et al. Prognostic factors analysis of 17,600 melanoma patients: validation of the American Joint Committee on Cancer melanoma staging system. J. Clin. Oncol.19(16), 3622–3634 (2001).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Clark WH Jr, From L, Bernardino EA, Mihm MC. The histogenesis and biologic behavior of primary human malignant melanomas of the skin. Cancer Res.29(3), 705–727 (1969).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Breslow A. Thickness, cross-sectional areas and depth of invasion in the prognosis of cutaneous melanoma. Ann. Surg.172(5), 902–908 (1970).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Weinstock MA. Epidemiology and prognosis of anorectal melanoma. Gastroenterology104(1), 174–178 (1993).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Garbe C, Büttner P, Bertz J et al. Primary cutaneous melanoma. Prognostic classification of anatomic location. Cancer75(10), 2492–2498 (1995).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Garbe C, Büttner P, Bertz J et al. Primary cutaneous melanoma. Identification of prognostic groups and estimation of individual prognosis for 5093 patients. Cancer75(10), 2484–2491 (1995).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Byrne CM, Thompson JF. Role of electrochemotherapy in the treatment of metastatic melanoma and other metastatic and primary skin tumors. Expert Rev. Anticancer Ther.6(5), 671–678 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Sadadcharam M, Soden DM, O’Sullivan GC. Electrochemotherapy: an emerging cancer treatment. Int. J. Hyperthermia24(3), 263–273 (2008).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Moller MG, Lewis JM, Dessureault S, Zager JS. Toxicities associated with hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion and isolated limb infusion in the treatment of melanoma and sarcoma. Int. J. Hyperthermia24(3), 275–289 (2008).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Smalley KS, Nathanson KL, Flaherty KT. Genetic subgrouping of melanoma reveals new opportunities for targeted therapy. Cancer Res.69(8), 3241–3244 (2009).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Anderson CM, Buzaid AC, Legha SS. Systemic treatments for advanced cutaneous melanoma. Oncology9(11), 1149–1158 (1995).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Eggermont AM, Testori A, Marsden J et al. Utility of adjuvant systemic therapy in melanoma. Ann. Oncol.20(Suppl. 6), vi30–vi4 (2009).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Mir LM, Glass LF, Sersa G et al. Effective treatment of cutaneous and subcutaneous malignant tumours by electrochemotherapy. Br. J. Cancer77(12), 2336–2342 (1998).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Ross MI. Surgery and other local-regional modalities for all stages of melanoma. Curr. Opin. Oncol.6(2), 197–203 (1994).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Eggermont AM, Gore M. Randomized adjuvant therapy trials in melanoma: surgical and systemic. Semin. Oncol.34(6), 509–515 (2007).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Testori A, Rutkowski P, Marsden J et al. Surgery and radiotherapy in the treatment of cutaneous melanoma. Ann. Oncol.20(Suppl. 6), vi22–vi9 (2009).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Atkins MB, Hsu J, Lee S et al. Phase III trial comparing concurrent biochemotherapy with cisplatin, vinblastine, dacarbazine, interleukin-2, and interferon α-2b with cisplatin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine alone in patients with metastatic malignant melanoma (E3695): a trial coordinated by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. J. Clin. Oncol.26(35), 5748–5754 (2008).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Quirt I, Verma S, Petrella T, Bak K, Charette M. Temozolomide for the treatment of metastatic melanoma: a systematic review. Oncologist12(9), 1114–1123 (2007).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Chapman PB, Einhorn LH, Meyers ML et al. Phase III multicenter randomized trial of the Dartmouth regimen versus dacarbazine in patients with metastatic melanoma. J. Clin. Oncol.17(9), 2745–2751 (1999).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Legha SS, Ring S, Papadopoulos N, Plager C, Chawla S, Benjamin R. A prospective evaluation of a triple-drug regimen containing cisplatin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (CVD) for metastatic melanoma. Cancer64(10), 2024–2029 (1989).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Margolin KA, Liu PY, Unger JM et al. Phase II trial of biochemotherapy with interferon a, dacarbazine, cisplatin and tamoxifen in metastatic melanoma: a Southwest Oncology Group trial. J. Cancer Res. Clin. Oncol.125(5), 292–296 (1999).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Del Prete SA, Maurer LH, O’Donnell J, Forcier RJ, LeMarbre P. Combination chemotherapy with cisplatin, carmustine, dacarbazine, and tamoxifen in metastatic melanoma. Cancer Treat. Rep.68(11), 1403–1405 (1984).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Mansfield AS, Markovic SN. Novel therapeutics for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. Future Oncol.5(4), 543–557 (2009).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Barranco SC, Romsdahl MM, Humphrey RM. The radiation response of human malignant melanoma cells grown in vitro. Cancer Res.31(6), 830–833 (1971).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Sause WT, Cooper JS, Rush S et al. Fraction size in external beam radiation therapy in the treatment of melanoma. Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys.20(3), 429–432 (1991).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Seegenschmiedt MH, Keilholz L, Altendorf-Hofmann A et al. Palliative radiotherapy for recurrent and metastatic malignant melanoma: prognostic factors for tumor response and long-term outcome: a 20-year experience. Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys.44(3), 607–618 (1999).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Olivier KR, Schild SE, Morris CG, Brown PD, Markovic SN. A higher radiotherapy dose is associated with more durable palliation and longer survival in patients with metastatic melanoma. Cancer110(8), 1791–1795 (2007).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Konefal JB, Emami B, Pilepich MV. Analysis of dose fractionation in the palliation of metastases from malignant melanoma. Cancer61(2), 243–246 (1988).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Overgaard J, Overgaard M, Hansen PV, von der Maase H. Some factors of importance in the radiation treatment of malignant melanoma. Radiother. Oncol.5(3), 183–192 (1986).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Overgaard J, Hulshof MC, Arcangeli G et al. Hyperthermia as an adjuvant to radiation therapy of recurrent or metastatic malignant melanoma. A multicentre randomized trial by the European Society for Hyperthermic Oncology. Int. J. Hyperthermia12(1), 3–20 (1996).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Fitzgerald TJ, Jodoin MB, Tillman G et al. Radiation therapy toxicity to the skin. Dermatol. Clin.26(1), 161–172 (2008).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Chopra RR, Bogart JA. Radiation therapy-related toxicity (including pneumonitis and fibrosis). Emerg. Med. Clin. North Am.27(2), 293–310 (2009).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Scala M, Gipponi M, Queirolo P et al. Cryosurgery for advanced malignant melanoma of the facial skin. A case report. In vivo20(1), 153–156 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Wieberdink J, Benckhuysen C, Braat RP, van Slooten EA, Olthuis GA. Dosimetry in isolation perfusion of the limbs by assessment of perfused tissue volume and grading of toxic tissue reactions. Eur. J. Cancer Clin. Oncol.18(10), 905–910 (1982).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Hill S, Thomas JM. Use of the carbon dioxide laser to manage cutaneous metastases from malignant melanoma. Br. J. Surg.83(4), 509–512 (1996).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Kandamany N, Mahaffey P. Carbon dioxide laser ablation as first-line management of in-transit cutaneous malignant melanoma metastases. Lasers Med. Sci.24(3), 411–414 (2009).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hayes AJ, Clark MA, Harries M, Thomas JM. Management of in-transit metastases from cutaneous malignant melanoma. Br. J. Surg.91(6), 673–682 (2004).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Morton DL, Eilber FR, Holmes EC et al. BCG immunotherapy of malignant melanoma: summary of a seven-year experience. Ann. Surg.180(4), 635–643 (1974).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Cohen MH, Jessup JM, Felix EL, Weese JL, Herberman RB. Intralesional treatment of recurrent metastatic cutaneous malignant melanoma: a randomized prospective study of intralesional bacillus Calmette–Guerin versus intralesional dinitrochlorobenzene. Cancer41(6), 2456–2463 (1978).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Tan JK, Ho VC. Pooled analysis of the efficacy of bacille Calmette–Guerin (BCG) immunotherapy in malignant melanoma. J. Dermatol. Surg. Oncol.19(11), 985–990 (1993).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Randomized controlled trial of adjuvant chemoimmunotherapy with DTIC and BCG after complete excision of primary melanoma with poor prognosis or melanoma metastases. Can. Med. Assoc. J.128(8), 929–933 (1983).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Agarwala SS, Neuberg D, Park Y, Kirkwood JM. Mature results of a Phase III randomized trial of bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG) versus observation and BCG plus dacarbazine versus BCG in the adjuvant therapy of American Joint Committee on Cancer Stage I–III melanoma (E1673): a trial of the Eastern Oncology Group. Cancer100(8), 1692–1698 (2004).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Veronesi U, Adamus J, Aubert C et al. A randomized trial of adjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy in cutaneous melanoma. N. Engl. J. Med.307(15), 913–916 (1982).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Rasmussen H, Lempicki M, Durham R et al. TNFerade biologic: preclinical toxicology of a novel adenovector with a radiation-inducible promoter, carrying the human tumor necrosis factor a gene. Cancer Gene Ther.9(11), 951–957 (2002).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Seung LP, Mauceri HJ, Beckett MA et al. Genetic radiotherapy overcomes tumor resistance to cytotoxic agents. Cancer Res.55(23), 5561–5565 (1995).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hallahan DE, Vokes EE, Rubin SJ et al. Phase I dose-escalation study of tumor necrosis factor-α and concomitant radiation therapy. Cancer J. Sci. Am.1(3), 204–209 (1995).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Hallahan DE, Mauceri HJ, Seung LP et al. Spatial and temporal control of gene therapy using ionizing radiation. Nat. Med.1(8), 786–791 (1995).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Senzer N, Mani S, Rosemurgy A et al. TNFerade biologic, an adenovector with a radiation-inducible promoter, carrying the human tumor necrosis factor α gene: a Phase I study in patients with solid tumors. J. Clin. Oncol.22(4), 592–601 (2004).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• McLoughlin JM, McCarty TM, Cunningham C et al. TNFerade, an adenovector carrying the transgene for human tumor necrosis factor α, for patients with advanced solid tumors: surgical experience and long-term follow-up. Ann. Surg. Oncol.12(10), 825–830 (2005).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Atkins MB, Lotze MT, Dutcher JP et al. High-dose recombinant interleukin 2 therapy for patients with metastatic melanoma: analysis of 270 patients treated between 1985 and 1993. J. Clin. Oncol.17(7), 2105–2116 (1999).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Keilholz U, Punt CJ, Gore M et al. Dacarbazine, cisplatin, and interferon-α-2b with or without interleukin-2 in metastatic melanoma: a randomized Phase III trial (18951) of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Melanoma Group. J. Clin. Oncol.23(27), 6747–6755 (2005).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Rosenberg SA, Yang JC, Schwartzentruber DJ et al. Prospective randomized trial of the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma using chemotherapy with cisplatin, dacarbazine, and tamoxifen alone or in combination with interleukin-2 and interferon α-2b. J. Clin. Oncol.17(3), 968–975 (1999).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Tarhini AA, Agarwala SS. Interleukin-2 for the treatment of melanoma. Curr. Opin. Investig. Drugs6(12), 1234–1239 (2005).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Verma S, Petrella T, Hamm C et al. Biochemotherapy for the treatment of metastatic malignant melanoma: a clinical practice guideline. Curr. Oncol.15(2), 85–89 (2008).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Radny P, Caroli UM, Bauer J et al. Phase II trial of intralesional therapy with interleukin-2 in soft-tissue melanoma metastases. Br. J. Cancer89(9), 1620–1626 (2003).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Pfohler C, Steinhäuser S, Wagner A, Ugurel S, Tilgen W. Complete remission of cutaneous satellite and in-transit metastases. After intralesional therapy with interleukin-2 in 2 patients with malignant melanoma. Hautarzt55(2), 171–175 (2004).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Terando AM, Faries MB, Morton DL. Vaccine therapy for melanoma: current status and future directions. Vaccine25(Suppl. 2), B4–B16 (2007).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Yun CO, Nolan KF, Beecham EJ, Reisfeld RA, Junghans RP. Targeting of T lymphocytes to melanoma cells through chimeric anti-GD3 immunoglobulin T-cell receptors. Neoplasia2(5), 449–459 (2000).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Lotem M, Machlenkin A, Hamburger T et al. Autologous melanoma vaccine induces antitumor and self-reactive immune responses that affect patient survival and depend on MHC class II expression on vaccine cells. Clin. Cancer Res.15(15), 4968–4977 (2009).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Gilboa E. DC-based cancer vaccines. J. Clin. Invest.117(5), 1195–1203 (2007).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Sondak VK, Sosman JA. Results of clinical trials with an allogenic melanoma tumor cell lysate vaccine: melacine. Semin. Cancer Biol.13(6), 409–415 (2003).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Mitchell MS, Abrams J, Thompson JA et al. Randomized trial of an allogeneic melanoma lysate vaccine with low-dose interferon α-2b compared with high-dose interferon α-2b for resected stage III cutaneous melanoma. J. Clin. Oncol.25(15), 2078–2085 (2007).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Schadendorf D, Ugurel S, Schuler-Thurner B et al. Dacarbazine (DTIC) versus vaccination with autologous peptide-pulsed dendritic cells (DC) in first-line treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma: a randomized Phase III trial of the DC study group of the DeCOG. Ann. Oncol.17(4), 563–570 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Aebersold P, Hyatt C, Johnson S et al. Lysis of autologous melanoma cells by tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes: association with clinical response. J. Natl Cancer Inst.83(13), 932–937 (1991).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Rosenberg SA, Lotze MT, Muul LM et al. Observations on the systemic administration of autologous lymphokine-activated killer cells and recombinant interleukin-2 to patients with metastatic cancer. N. Engl. J. Med.313(23), 1485–1492 (1985).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Rosenberg SA, Lotze MT, Muul LM et al. A new approach to the therapy of cancer based on the systemic administration of autologous lymphokine-activated killer cells and recombinant interleukin-2. Surgery100(2), 262–272 (1986).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Rosenberg SA, Lotze MT, Yang JC et al. Experience with the use of high-dose interleukin-2 in the treatment of 652 cancer patients. Ann. Surg.210(4), 474–484 (1989).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Rosenberg SA, Lotze MT, Yang JC et al. Prospective randomized trial of high-dose interleukin-2 alone or in conjunction with lymphokine-activated killer cells for the treatment of patients with advanced cancer. J. Natl Cancer Inst.85(8), 622–632 (1993).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Liu K, Rosenberg SA. Transduction of an IL-2 gene into human melanoma-reactive lymphocytes results in their continued growth in the absence of exogenous IL-2 and maintenance of specific antitumor activity. J. Immunol.167(11), 6356–6365 (2001).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Liu K, Rosenberg SA. Interleukin-2-independent proliferation of human melanoma-reactive T lymphocytes transduced with an exogenous IL-2 gene is stimulation dependent. J. Immunother.26(3), 190–201 (2003).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Heemskerk B, Liu K, Dudley ME et al. Adoptive cell therapy for patients with melanoma, using tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes genetically engineered to secrete interleukin-2. Hum. Gene Ther.19(5), 496–510 (2008).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Abken H, Hombach A, Heuser C, Reinhold U. A novel strategy in the elimination of disseminated melanoma cells: chimeric receptors endow T cells with tumor specificity. Recent Results Cancer Res.158, 249–264 (2001).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Reinhold U, Liu L, Lüdtke-Handjery HC et al. Specific lysis of melanoma cells by receptor grafted T cells is enhanced by anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibodies directed to the scFv domain of the receptor. J. Invest. Dermatol.112(5), 744–750 (1999).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Rabinovich PM, Komarovskaya ME, Wrzesinski SH et al. Chimeric receptor mRNA transfection as a tool to generate antineoplastic lymphocytes. Hum. Gene Ther. (2008) (Epub ahead of print).
   Google Scholar
• Kazaks A, Balmaks R, Voronkova T, Ose V, Pumpens P. Melanoma vaccine candidates from chimeric hepatitis B core virus-like particles carrying a tumor-associated MAGE-3 epitope. Biotechnol. J.3(11), 1429–1436 (2008).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Sondak VK, Flaherty LE. Adjuvant therapy of melanoma: is pegylated interferon α-2b what we’ve been waiting for? Lancet372(9633), 89–90 (2008).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Schadendorf D, Algarra SM, Bastholt L et al. Immunotherapy of distant metastatic disease. Ann. Oncol.20(Suppl. 6), vi41–vi50 (2009).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Eggermont AM, Suciu S, Santinami M et al. Adjuvant therapy with pegylated interferon α-2b versus observation alone in resected stage III melanoma: final results of EORTC 18991, a randomised Phase III trial. Lancet372(9633), 117–126 (2008).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Kim KB et al. A randomized Phase III trial of biochemotherapy versus interferon-α-2b for adjuvant therapy in patients at high risk for melanoma recurrence. Melanoma Res.19(1), 42–49 (2009).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Creech O Jr, Krementz ET, Ryan RF, Winblad JN. Chemotherapy of cancer: regional perfusion utilizing an extracorporeal circuit. Ann. Surg.148(4), 616–632 (1958).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Eggermont AM, van Geel AN, de Wilt JH, ten Hagen TL. The role of isolated limb perfusion for melanoma confined to the extremities. Surg. Clin. North Am.83(2), 371–384 (2003).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Thompson JF, Saw RPM. Isolated limb infusion with melphalan for recurrent limb melanoma: a simple alternative to isolated limb perfusion. Ref. Cancer Treat.7, 2 (1994).
   Google Scholar
• Cornett WR, McCall LM, Petersen RP et al. Randomized multicenter trial of hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion with melphalan alone compared with melphalan plus tumor necrosis factor: American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Trial Z0020. J. Clin. Oncol.24(25), 4196–4201 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Vrouenraets BC, Nieweg OE, van Slooten GW et al. Long-term functional morbidity after mild hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion with melphalan. Eur. J. Surg. Oncol.25(5), 503–508 (1999).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Vrouenraets BC, Klaase JM, Kroon BB et al. Long-term morbidity after regional isolated perfusion with melphalan for melanoma of the limbs. The influence of acute regional toxic reactions. Arch. Surg.130(1), 43–47 (1995).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Beasley GM, Petersen RP, Yoo J et al. Isolated limb infusion for in-transit malignant melanoma of the extremity: a well-tolerated but less effective alternative to hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion. Ann. Surg. Oncol.15(8), 2195–2205 (2008).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Zager JS, Aldrink GJJ, Lin E et al. Isolated limb infusion for locally recurrent and in-transit extremity melanoma: a multi-institutional experience. Ann. Surg. Oncol.13(2), 75 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• McDermott DF, Sosman JA, Gonzalez R et al. Double-blind randomized Phase II study of the combination of sorafenib and dacarbazine in patients with advanced melanoma: a report from the 11715 Study Group. J. Clin. Oncol.26(13), 2178–2185 (2008).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hauschild A, Agarwala SS, Trefzer U et al. Results of a Phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled study of sorafenib in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel as second-line treatment in patients with unresectable stage III or stage IV melanoma. J. Clin. Oncol.27(17), 2823–2830 (2009).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Saldanha G, Potter L, Daforno P, Pringle JH. Cutaneous melanoma subtypes show different BRAF and NRAS mutation frequencies. Clin. Cancer Res.12(15), 4499–4505 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hoeflich KP, Herter S, Tien J et al. Antitumor efficacy of the novel RAF inhibitor GDC-0879 is predicted by BRAFV600E mutational status and sustained extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway suppression. Cancer Res.69(7), 3042–3051 (2009).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Davies H, Bignell GR, Cox C et al. Mutations of the BRAF gene in human cancer. Nature417(6892), 949–954 (2002).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Reifenberger J, Knobbe CB, Sterzinger AA et al. Frequent alterations of Ras signaling pathway genes in sporadic malignant melanomas. Int. J. Cancer109(3), 377–384 (2004).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Maldonado JL, Fridlyand J, Patel H et al. Determinants of BRAF mutations in primary melanomas. J. Natl Cancer Inst.95(24), 1878–1890 (2003).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Edmunds SC, Cree IA, Dí Nícolantonío F, Hungerford JL, Hurren JS, Kelsell DP. Absence of BRAF gene mutations in uveal melanomas in contrast to cutaneous melanomas. Br. J. Cancer88(9), 1403–1405 (2003).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Wong CW, Fan YS, Chan TL et al. BRAF and NRAS mutations are uncommon in melanomas arising in diverse internal organs. J. Clin. Pathol.58(6), 640–644 (2005).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Montagut C, Sharma SV, Shioda T et al. Elevated CRAF as a potential mechanism of acquired resistance to BRAF inhibition in melanoma. Cancer Res.68(12), 4853–4861 (2008).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Gallagher SJ, Thompson JF, Indsto J et al. p16INK4a expression and absence of activated B-RAF are independent predictors of chemosensitivity in melanoma tumors. Neoplasia10(11), 1231–1239 (2008).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Jaiswal BS, Janakiraman V, Kljavin NM et al. Combined targeting of BRAF and CRAF or BRAF and PI3K effector pathways is required for efficacy in NRAS mutant tumors. PLoS One4(5), e5717 (2009).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Sersa G, Miklavcic D, Cemazar M, Rudolf Z, Pucihar G, Snoj M. Electrochemotherapy in treatment of tumours. Eur. J. Surg. Oncol.34(2), 232–240 (2008).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Glass LF, Jaroszeski M, Gilbert R, Reintgen DS, Heller R. Intralesional bleomycin-mediated electrochemotherapy in 20 patients with basal cell carcinoma. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol.37(4), 596–599 (1997).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Sersa G. The state-of-the-art of electrochemotherapy before the ESOPE study; advantages and clinical uses. Eur. J. Cancer4(11), 52–59 (2006).
   Google Scholar
• Mir LM. Basis and rationale of electrochemotherapy. Eur. J. Cancer (Suppl. 4), 38–44 (2006).
   Google Scholar
• Mir LM, Belehradek M, Domenge C et al. [Electrochemotherapy, a new antitumor treatment: first clinical trial]. C. R. Acad. Sci. III313(13), 613–618 (1991).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Orlowski S, Belehradek J Jr, Paoletti C, Mir LM. Transient electropermeabilization of cells in culture. Increase of the cytotoxicity of anticancer drugs. Biochem. Pharmacol.37(24), 4727–4733 (1988).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Larkin JO, Collins CG, Aarons S et al. Electrochemotherapy: aspects of preclinical development and early clinical experience. Ann. Surg.245(3), 469–479 (2007).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Weaver JC. Electroporation theory. Concepts and mechanisms. Methods Mol. Biol.55, 3–28 (1995).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Belehradek J Jr, Orlowski S, Poddevin B, Paoletti C, Mir LM. Electrochemotherapy of spontaneous mammary tumours in mice. Eur. J. Cancer27(1), 73–76 (1991).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Marty M, Garbay JM, Gehl J et al. Electrochemotherapy – an easy, highly effective and safe treatment of cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases : results of ESOPE (European Standard Operating Procedures of Electrochemotherapy) study. Eur. J. Cancer4(11), 3–13 (2006).
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Sersa G, Cemazar M, Miklavcic D. Antitumor effectiveness of electrochemotherapy with cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) in mice. Cancer Res.55(15), 3450–3455 (1995).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Gehl J. Electroporation for drug and gene delivery in the clinic: doctors go electric. Methods Mol. Biol.423, 351–359 (2008).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Gehl J. Electroporation: theory and methods, perspectives for drug delivery, gene therapy and research. Acta Physiol. Scand.177(4), 437–447 (2003).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Gehl J, Geertsen PF. Efficient palliation of haemorrhaging malignant melanoma skin metastases by electrochemotherapy. Melanoma Res.10(6), 585–589 (2000).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Snoj M, Cemazar M, Srnovrsnik T, Kosir SP, Sersa G. Limb sparing treatment of bleeding melanoma recurrence by electrochemotherapy. Tumori95(3), 398–402 (2009).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Neumann E, Schaefer-Ridder M, Wang Y, Hofschneider PH. Gene transfer into mouse lyoma cells by electroporation in high electric fields. EMBO J.1(7), 841–845 (1982).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Mir LM, Banoun H, Paoletti C. Introduction of definite amounts of nonpermeant molecules into living cells after electropermeabinfzation: direct access to the cytosol. Exp. Cell Res.175(1), 15–25 (1988).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Melvik JE, Pettersen EO, Gordon PB, Seglen PO. Increase in cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum (II) cytotoxicity upon reversible electropermeabinfzation of the plasma membrane in cultured human NHIK 3025 cells. Eur. J. Cancer Clin. Oncol.22(12), 1523–1530 (1986).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Okino M, Mohri H. Effects of a high-voltage electrical impulse and an anticancer drug on In vivogrowing tumors. Jpn. J. Cancer Res.78(12), 1319–1321 (1987).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Belehradek M, Domenge C, Luboinski B et al. Electrochemotherapy, a new antitumor treatment. First clinical Phase I–II trial. Cancer72(12), 3694–3700 (1993).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Rudolf Z, Stabuc B, Cemazar M, Miklavcic F, Vodovnik L, Sersa G. Electrochemotherapy with bleomycin: the first clinical experience in malignant melanoma patients. Radiol. Oncol.29(6), 229–235 (1995).
   Google Scholar
• Rols MP, Bachaud JM, Giraud P et al. Electrochemotherapy of cutaneous metastases in malignant melanoma. Melanoma Res.10(5), 468–474 (2000).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Heller R, Jaroszeski MJ, Glass LF et al. Phase I/II trial for the treatment of cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors using electrochemotherapy. Cancer77(5), 964–971 (1996).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Domenge C, Orlowski S, Luboinski B et al. Antitumor electrochemotherapy: new advances in the clinical protocol. Cancer77(5), 956–963 (1996).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Sersa G, Cufer T, Cemazar M, Rebersek M, Zvonimir R. Electrochemotherapy with bleomycin in the treatment of hypernephroma metastasis: case report and literature review. Tumori86(2), 163–165 (2000).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Glass LF, Pepine ML, Fenske NA et al. Bleomycin-mediated electrochemotherapy of metastatic melanoma. Arch. Dermatol.132(11), 1353–1357 (1996).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Heller R, Jaroszeski MJ, Reintgen DS et al. Treatment of cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors with electrochemotherapy using intralesional bleomycin. Cancer83(1), 148–157 (1998).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Rodriguez-Cuevas S, Barroso-Bravo S, Almanza-Estrada J et al. Electrochemotherapy in primary and metastatic skin tumors: Phase II trial using intralesional bleomycin. Arch. Med. Res.32(4), 273–276 (2001).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Byrne CM, Thompson JF, Johnston H et al. Treatment of metastatic melanoma using electroporation therapy with bleomycin (electrochemotherapy). Melanoma Res.15(1), 45–51 (2005).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Kubota Y, Mir LM, Nakada T, Sasagawa I, Suzuki H, Aoyama N. Successful treatment of metastatic skin lesions with electrochemotherapy. J. Urol.160(4), 1426 (1998).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Giraud P, Bachaud JM, Teissie J, Rols MP. Effects of electrochemotherapy on cutaneous metastases of human malignant melanoma. Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys.36(5) 1285 (1996).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Sersa G, Stabuc B, Cemazar M, Jancar B, Miklavcic D, Rudolf Z. Electrochemotherapy with cisplatin: potentiation of local cisplatin antitumour effectiveness by application of electric pulses in cancer patients. Eur. J. Cancer34(8), 1213–1218 (1998).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Sersa G, Stabuc B, Cemazar M, Miklavcic D, Rudolf Z. Electrochemotherapy with cisplatin: clinical experience in malignant melanoma patients. Clin. Cancer Res.6(3), 863–867 (2000).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Snoj M, Rudolf Z, Cemazar M, Jancar B, Sersa G. Successful sphincter-saving treatment of anorectal malignant melanoma with electrochemotherapy, local excision and adjuvant brachytherapy. Anticancer Drugs16(3), 345–348 (2005).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Sersa G, Rudolf Z. Electrochemotherapy: advantages and drawbacks in treatment of cancer patients. Cancer Therapy1, 133–142 (2003).
   Google Scholar
• Heller R. Treatment of cutaneous nodules using electrochemotherapy. J. Fla Med. Assoc.82(2), 147–150 (1995).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Heller R, Jaroszeski M, Perrott R, Messina J, Gilbert R. Effective treatment of B16 melanoma by direct delivery of bleomycin using electrochemotherapy. Melanoma Res.7(1), 10–18 (1997).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Kubota Y, Tomita Y, Tsukigi M, Kurachi H, Motoyama T, Mir LM. A case of perineal malignant melanoma successfully treated with electrochemotherapy. Melanoma Res.15(2), 133–134 (2005).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Sersa G, Stabuc B, Cemazar M, Miklavcic D, Rudolf Z. Electrochemotherapy with cisplatin: the systemic antitumour effectiveness of cisplatin can be potentiated locally by the application of electric pulses in the treatment of malignant melanoma skin metastases. Melanoma Res.10(4), 381–385 (2000).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Soden DM, Larkin JO, Collins CG et al. Successful application of targeted electrochemotherapy using novel flexible electrodes and low dose bleomycin to solid tumours. Cancer Lett.232(2), 300–310 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hofmann GA, Dev SB, Nanda GS, Rabussay D. Electroporation therapy of solid tumors. Crit. Rev. Ther. Drug Carrier Syst.16(6), 523–569 (1999).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Rabussay DP, Nanda GS, Goldfarb PM. Enhancing the effectiveness of drug-based cancer therapy by electroporation (electropermeabilization). Technol. Cancer Res. Treat.1(1), 71–82 (2002).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Tauceri F, Mura G, Roseano M, Framarini M, Ridolfi L, Verdecchia GM. Surgery and adjuvant therapies in the treatment of stage IV melanoma: our experience in 84 patients. Langenbecks Arch. Surg. (2008)
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Campana LG, Mocellin S, Basso M et al. Bleomycin-based electrochemotherapy: clinical outcome from a single institution’s experience with 52 patients. Ann. Surg. Oncol.16(1), 191–199 (2009).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Gaudy C, Richard MA, Folchetti G, Bonerandi JJ, Grob JJ. Randomized controlled study of electrochemotherapy in the local treatment of skin metastases of melanoma. J. Cutan. Med. Surg.10(3), 115–121 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Sersa G, Cemazar M, Snoj M. Electrochemotherapy of tumours. Curr. Oncol.16(2), 34–35 (2009).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Mir L, Gehl J, Sersa G et al. Standard operating procedures of hte electrochemotherapy: instructions for the use of bleomycin and cisplastin administered either systemically or locally and electric pulses delivered by Cliniporator™ by means of ivansive or non-invasive electrodes. Eur. J. Cancer4, 14–25 (2006).
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Cemazar M, Milacic R, Miklavcic D, Dolzan V, Sersa G. Intratumoral cisplatin administration in electrochemotherapy: antitumor effectiveness, sequence dependence and platinum content. Anticancer Drugs9(6), 525–530 (1998).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Heller R, Gilbert R, Jaroszeski MJ. Clinical applications of electrochemotherapy. Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev.35(1), 119–129 (1999).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Snoj M, Cemazar M, Slekovec Kolar B, Sersa G. Effective treatment of multiple unresectable skin melanoma metastases by electrochemotherapy. Croat. Med. J.48(3), 391–395 (2007).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Snoj MR, Paulin-Kosir Z, Cemanzar S, Sersa G. Long lasting complete response in melanoma treated by electrochemotherapy. Eur. J. Cancer Suppl.4(11), 2 (2006).
   Google Scholar
• Giardino R, Fini M, Bonazzi V, Cadossi R, Nicolini A, Carpi A. Electrochemotherapy a novel approach to the treatment of metastatic nodules on the skin and subcutaneous tissues. Biomed. Pharmacother.60(8), 458–462 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Soden D, Larkin J, Collins C et al. The development of novel flexible electrode arrays for the electrochemotherapy of solid tumour tissue (potential for endoscopic treatment of inaccessible cancers). Conf. Proc. IEEE Eng. Med. Biol. Soc.5, 3547–3550 (2004).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Orlowski S, An D, Belehradek J Jr, Mir LM. Antimetastatic effects of electrochemotherapy and of histoincompatible interleukin-2-secreting cells in the murine Lewis lung tumor. Anticancer Drugs9(6), 551–556 (1998).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Ramirez LH, Orlowski S, An D et al. Electrochemotherapy on liver tumours in rabbits. Br. J. Cancer77(12), 2104–2111 (1998).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Heller LC, Heller R. In vivoelectroporation for gene therapy. Hum. Gene Ther.17(9), 890–897 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Daud AI, DeConti RC, Andrews S et al. Phase I trial of interleukin-12 plasmid electroporation in patients with metastatic melanoma. J. Clin. Oncol.26(36), 5896–5903 (2008).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Cemazar M, Golzio M, Sersa G, Rols MP, Teissié J. Electrically-assisted nucleic acids delivery to tissues In vivo: where do we stand? Curr. Pharm. Des.12(29), 3817–3825 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Mir LM, Orlowski S, Belehradek J Jr, Paoletti C. Electrochemotherapy potentiation of antitumour effect of bleomycin by local electric pulses. Eur. J. Cancer27(1), 68–72 (1991).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Mir LM, Orlowski S, Poddevin B, Belehradek J Jr. Electrochemotherapy tumor treatment is improved by interleukin-2 stimulation of the host’s defenses. Eur. Cytokine Netw.3(3), 331–334 (1992).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Mir LM, Roth C, Orlowski S et al. Potentiation of the antitumoral effect of electrochemotherapy by immunotherapy with allogeneic cells producing interleukin 2. C. R. Acad. Sci. III314(12), 539–544 (1992).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Heller L, Pottinger C, Jaroszeski MJ, Gilbert R, Heller R. In vivoelectroporation of plasmids encoding GM-CSF or interleukin-2 into existing B16 melanomas combined with electrochemotherapy induces long-term antitumour immunity. Melanoma Res.10(6), 577–583 (2000).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Roux S, Bernat C, Al-Sakere B et al. Tumor destruction using electrochemotherapy followed by CpG oligodeoxynucleotide injection induces distant tumor responses. Cancer Immunol. Immunother.57(9), 1291–1300 (2008).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Cashman JP, Larkin JO, Casey G et al. Immune gene therapy as a neoadjuvant to surgical excision to control metastatic cancers. Cancer Lett. DOI:10.1016/j.canlet.2007.11.042 (2008) (Epub ahead of print).
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Collins CG, Tangney M, Larkin JO et al. Local gene therapy of solid tumors with GM-CSF and B7–1 eradicates both treated and distal tumors. Cancer Gene Ther.13(12), 1061–1071 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Tangney M, Casey G, Larkin JO et al. Non-viral In vivo immune gene therapy of cancer: combined strategies for treatment of systemic disease. Cancer Immunol. Immunother.55(11), 1443–1450 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Andersen MH, Gehl J, Reker S et al. Dynamic changes of specific T cell responses to melanoma correlate with IL-2 administration. Semin. Cancer Biol.13(6), 449–459 (2003).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Sersa G, Cemazar M, Menart V, Gaberc-Porekar V, Miklavcic D. Anti-tumor effectiveness of electrochemotherapy with bleomycin is increased by TNF-α on SA-1 tumors in mice. Cancer Lett.116(1), 85–92 (1997).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Peycheva E, Daskalov I, Tsoneva I. Electrochemotherapy of mycosis fungoides by interferon-α. Bioelectrochemistry70(2), 283–286 (2007).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Edd JF, Horowitz L, Davalos RV, Mir LM, Rubinsky B. In vivoresults of a new focal tissue ablation technique: irreversible electroporation. IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng.53(7), 1409–1415 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Nuccitelli R, Pliquett U, Chen X et al. Nanosecond pulsed electric fields cause melanomas to self-destruct. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.343(2), 351–360 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Frey W, White JA, Price RO et al. Plasma membrane voltage changes during nanosecond pulsed electric field exposure. Biophys. J.90(10), 3608–3615 (2006).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Kranjc S, Cemazar M, Grosel A, Sentjurc M, Sersa G. Radiosensitising effect of electrochemotherapy with bleomycin in LPB sarcoma cells and tumors in mice. BMC Cancer5, 115 (2005).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar