Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Radioactive holmium injection treats oral cancer in cats
By van Nimwegen, S A et al.·Published in Veterinary and comparative oncology·2018·Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Netherlands·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Intratumoral injection of radioactive holmium (Ho) microspheres for treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma in cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 13 cats with inoperable oral squamous cell carcinoma (a type of mouth cancer) received injections of radioactive holmium microspheres directly into their tumors. This treatment aimed to destroy the cancer while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. About 55% of the cats showed a positive response, with some tumors shrinking enough to allow for later surgery. The average survival time was 113 days, but those who responded well lived an average of 296 days. Side effects were minimal, making this a promising option for treating difficult cases of mouth cancer in cats.
People also search for: cat mouth cancer treatment · oral squamous cell carcinoma in cats · radioactive treatment for cat tumors
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS: A "microbrachytherapy" was developed as treatment option for inoperable tumours by direct intratumoral injection of radioactive holmium-166 (Ho) microspheres (MS).Ho emits β-radiation which potentially enables a high, ablative, radioactive-absorbed dose on the tumour tissue while sparing surrounding tissues. MATERIALS & METHODS: Safety and efficacy ofHo microbrachytherapy were evaluated in a prospective cohort study of 13 cats with inoperable oral squamous cell carcinoma without evidence of distant metastasis. RESULTS: Local response rate was 55%, including complete response or partial response (downstaging) enabling subsequent marginal resection. Median survival time was 113 days overall, and 296 days for patients with local response. Side effects were minimal. Tumour volume was a significant predictor of response. DISCUSSION: Response rate may be further improved by optimizing the intratumoral spatial distribution ofHo MS. CONCLUSION: Ho microbrachytherapy has potential as a minimally invasive, single procedure radio-ablation treatment of unresectable tumours with minimal morbidity.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28480610/