Intralesional Therapy in Oncology: A New Vision of a Classic Treatment

Abstract

Intralesional therapy has been used in oncology for over a century. The former empirical observations on local control were followed by trials with administration of different substances and/or destructive treatments with the aim of controlling cancer growth. Chemotherapy, molecular target therapy, radiotherapy and other physical therapies were initially viewed as a strategy that mainly affected tumor cells, but accumulating evidence in recent years indicates that can also affect the immune system and the tumor microenvironment to contribute to tumor regression. In the light of the recent and relevant findings in immunotherapy, a new point of view that integrates the current knowledge in the topic is presented, with the aim of stimulating further research that might help to optimize the use of new drugs, making them affordable, more effective and less toxic.