Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Photodynamic therapy for skin cancer in cats
By Ferreira, Isabelle et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2009·o Paulo State University (UNESP), Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Hematoporphyrin-based photodynamic therapy for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Twelve cats with skin cancer called cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma were treated with a special light therapy using a photosensitizer and LED lights. Some cats had tumors on their ears or nose, and while the treatment didn't work for the more aggressive tumors, it did help smaller, less invasive lesions. In cases where surgery was combined with the light therapy, two cats showed improvement, with one completely recovering. This suggests that using this light therapy alongside surgery could be beneficial for managing certain types of skin cancer in cats.
People also search for: cat skin cancer treatment · photodynamic therapy for cats · squamous cell carcinoma in cats · cat cancer surgery outcomes
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using a haematoporphyrin derivative (Photogem, General Physics Institute and clustes Ltda) as photosensitizer and light emitting diodes (LEDs) as the light source was evaluated in 12 cats with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Lesions were illuminated with LEDs, (300 J/cm for 30 min) 24 h after the administration of the photosensitizer. Clinical responses were classified as complete disappearance of the tumour with total re-epithelialization; partial response (a reduction greater than 50%); and no response (less than 50% reduction). Tumours localized to the pinna treated with one (n = 3) or two (n = 4) applications of PDT yielded no response. Highly invasive tumours of the nose and nasal planum also showed no response, after two treatments (n = 2). A combination of PDT and surgery was performed in three cases. Two cats showed partial response and one complete response with one application of therapy 30 days after nasal surgery. Small and noninfiltrative lesions (n = 3) of the nasal planum showed a PR with one application (n = 2) and a CR with two applications (n = 1). This study shows that PDT using Photogem and LEDs can provide local control of low-grade feline squamous cell carcinoma. The addition of PDT to surgery in more invasive cases may help prevent recurrence.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19374724/