Electrochemotherapy Treatment for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip: A Case Report

Gianluca Nicolai,1 Francesco Campanella,1 Sergio Alexandre Gehrke,2,* Antonio Scarano3,* 1Department of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; 2Department of Biotechnology, Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM), Murcia, 30107, Spain; 3Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine & Dentistry, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Antonio Scarano, Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, University of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei vestini 31, Chieti, 66100, Italy, Email ascarano@unich.itBackground: Squamous cell carcinoma is a malignant tumor that affects the skin and mucous membranes. It may present as painless superficial lesions, or as rapidly growing, exophytic masses, sometimes ulcerated, which can invade and damage surrounding tissues. It is the second most common malignant neoplasm of the skin, characterized by high clinical variability, which makes early diagnosis and timely treatment essential to improve prognosis. The aim of this case report is to evaluate the clinical efficacy, tolerability, and durability of response of electrochemotherapy in the treatment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the lip in patient with compromised general health.Case Presentation: We report the case of a 79-year-old male with multiple comorbidities, including chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and ischemic heart disease, who presented with a rapidly growing lesion on the lower lip. The surgical approach would entail a functional deficit of the lips and an aesthetic impairment. Due to the patient’s systemic condition, a more conservative treatment was chosen, namely treating the neoplasm with electrochemotherapy.Results: The treatment led to controlled necrosis of the lesion and complete healing by secondary intention within three months. The patient experienced no functional impairment or recurrence during a four-year follow-up.Conclusion: This case highlights the potential of electrochemotherapy as a safe and effective alternative for managing lip squamous cell carcinoma, particularly in patients who are not candidates for surgery or radiotherapy. The favorable clinical and aesthetic outcomes support its consideration in selected cases.Keywords: squamous cell carcinoma, lip cancer, intralesional, bleomycin, electrochemotherapy, non-melanoma skin cancer