Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with mast cell tumor on nose treated with single-needle
By Lampreht Tratar, Ursa et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2026·Institute of Oncology Ljubljana·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The use of a bipolar single-needle electrode for electrochemotherapy combined with gene electrotransfer of IL-12 in a mast cell tumor on the nasal planum of a dog: case report.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A dog with a mast cell tumor (a type of skin cancer) on its nose was treated using a special method that combined electrochemotherapy and gene therapy. The treatment involved injecting a chemotherapy drug and a gene that helps fight cancer directly into the tumor, followed by applying electric pulses with a single-needle electrode. This approach not only reduced the tumor's blood supply but also controlled the tumor for 18 months before it came back. The treatment was successful and showed that this method can be effective for hard-to-reach tumors.
People also search for: dog mast cell tumor treatment · electrochemotherapy for dogs · nose tumor in dogs · IL-12 gene therapy for pets
Abstract
Electrochemotherapy (ECT) combined with gene electrotransfer of interleukin-12 (IL-12 GET) has shown promising results in the treatment of canine mast cell tumors (MCTs). However, when tumors are located in anatomically challenging sites, there is a need for the use of a single-needle electrode to access the tumor. Therefore, this case report aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of using a bipolar single-needle electrode in a dog with an MCT on the nasal planum. The 2-cmtumor was treated with the simultaneous intratumoral administration of cisplatin (CDDP) and a plasmid encoding canine IL-12, followed by the application of electric pulses using a bipolar single-needle electrode. In addition, the dog was treated with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. We observed a reduction in microvessel density 6 months after treatment, along with a decreased number of proliferating cells. These combined interventions resulted in long-term local tumor control for 18 months before recurrence occurred. Importantly, our results demonstrated that the bipolar single-needle electrode approach was both feasible and effective. In conclusion, using IL-12 GET with a bipolar single-needle electrode for the treatment of MCTs is a practical and effective therapeutic option, particularly for tumors located in difficult-to-treat anatomical sites.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42137774/