Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Soft tissue sarcoma treatment and electrochemotherapy in dogs
By Torrigiani, Filippo et al.·Published in Veterinary and comparative oncology·2019·Department of Veterinary Sciences, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Soft tissue sarcoma in dogs: A treatment review and a novel approach using electrochemotherapy in a case series.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with soft tissue sarcomas (a type of cancer) were treated with a new method called electrochemotherapy, which uses electric pulses to help deliver medication directly to the tumors. In this study, 52 dogs with various sizes and grades of tumors received either electrochemotherapy alone, during surgery, or as an additional treatment after surgery. The results showed that the treatment was generally safe, with mild side effects in most cases, and it effectively controlled the tumors, leading to complete or partial remissions in some dogs. This approach could be a promising option for treating soft tissue sarcomas in dogs.
People also search for: dog soft tissue sarcoma treatment · electrochemotherapy for dogs · dog cancer treatment options
Abstract
Canine soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are locally invasive mesenchymal neoplasms. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is an antitumour local ablative treatment that uses electric pulses to enhance the intracellular delivery of cytotoxic drugs. The aim of this retrospective study was to review the current treatment for STSs and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ECT with bleomycin in canine STSs. Fifty-two dogs with 54 STSs were included. Three groups were arranged: (a) ECT alone, (b) intra-operative ECT and (c) adjuvant ECT. Signalment, tumour size, location, histological grade and margins and ECT parameters were collected. Recurrence rate (RR) and disease-free interval (DFI) were calculated. Treatment toxicity was assessed using a 6-point scale. STSs were mostly located on limbs (77.8%). Median tumour size was 4.3 cm (range 0.4-17.0 cm). Most STSs were grade I (47.7%) and II (50.0%), and histological margins were incomplete in 94.5% of cases. Two complete remissions, one partial remission and one stable disease were recorded in group 1. Group 2 and 3 were similar for tumour location, size and grade, histological margins, treatment toxicity, pulse frequency and voltage. Moreover, RR and DFI were similar between group 2 and 3 (23% and 25%, 81.5 and 243 days, respectively). Local toxicity post ECT was mild (score ≤ 2) in 66.7% of cases. Higher toxicity score was associated with higher pulse voltage (1200 vs 1000 V/cm) (P = 0.0473). ECT coupled with bleomycin resulted safe and efficient in tumour local control and should be considered as an option for treatment of canine STSs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30688021/