Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Polyamine inhibitor DFMO tested for oral cancer in cats
By Lewis, John R et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary dentistry·2013·Ryan Veterinary Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Polyamine inhibitors for treatment of feline oral squamous cell carcinoma: a proof-of-concept study.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 14 cats with oral squamous cell carcinoma (a type of mouth cancer) were treated with a medication called DFMO, which is designed to lower certain chemicals in the tumor. After treatment, the levels of these chemicals decreased in both the tumors and the surrounding healthy tissue. While some cats experienced mild side effects, such as low platelet counts and hearing issues, these were not severe. Overall, the treatment showed promise in reducing tumor levels without causing serious health problems, suggesting that DFMO could be a potential option for managing this cancer in cats.
People also search for: cat mouth cancer treatment · feline oral squamous cell carcinoma · DFMO for cats cancer · side effects of cancer treatment in cats
Abstract
This study assessed proof-of-concept for use of polyamine inhibitor 2-diluoromethylornithine (DFMO) as a treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in client-owned cats. Polyamine levels in tumor tissue and normal oral mucosa were quantified before and after treatment. DFMO was administered orally to 14 client-owned cats with histologically confirmed oral SCC. Patients were monitored for gastrointestinal, dermatologic, auditory, hematological, and biochemical abnormalities. Total polyamine levels in tumor tissue decreased after treatment, as did the specific polyamine putrescine in both tumor tissue and normal mucosa. Ototoxicity was observed in 5 of 6 cats receiving pre- and post-treatment brainstem auditory evoked potential tests. Subclinical thrombocytopenia was observed in 6 of 14 cats. One cat showed mild post-anesthetic tremors that resolved without treatment. Oral administration of DFMO at doses used in this study resulted in significantly decreased tumor polyamine levels without life-threatening clinical or hematological toxicities. Further studies are warranted to explore pathophysiology of polyamine biochemistry and use of polyamine inhibitors in treatment of cats with oral SCC.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24371920/