Bleomycin-based electrochemotherapy for the treatment of a Buschke-Löwenstein tumor (perianal giant condyloma) in an HIV-positive kidney transplant recipient: A case report

Abstract

The Buschke-Löwenstein tumor (BLT), also known as giant condyloma acuminatum, is a rare sexually transmitted disease often associated with human papillo-mavirus types 6 and 11. There are no specific guidelines for treating BLT. Surgery is the preferred treatment, although it can have profound consequences on a patient's quality of life. A 41-year old male, who was HIV-positive and a kidney transplant recipient treated with cyclosporine, was referred to the Veneto Institute of Oncology (Soft-Tissue, Peritoneum and Melanoma Surgical Oncology Unit) after a two-year history of perianal warts that always relapsed after surgical treatment. A multidisciplinary evaluation was conducted to assess an individually tailored treatment plan. Tailored bleomycin-based electrochemotherapy (ECT) was proposed in order to achieve local disease control and preserve kidney function. A total of three cycles of ECT with a 25%-reduced dose of intravenous bleomycin (11,250 IU/m2) were administered, and a complete response was achieved 20 months after the final ECT session.