Electrochemotherapy in veterinary oncology.
Authors: Cemazar M, Tamzali Y, Sersa G, Tozon N, Mir L M, Miklavcic D, Lowe R, Teissie J
Journal: Journal of veterinary internal medicine
Summary
Electrochemotherapy represents an innovative approach to treating skin and subcutaneous tumours in companion animals by combining chemotherapeutic drugs (typically bleomycin or cisplatin) with electric pulses that temporarily permeabilise cell membranes, allowing otherwise poorly-absorbed drugs to penetrate malignant tissue effectively. Cemazar and colleagues reviewed preclinical and clinical evidence from human and veterinary studies, finding that the technique achieves approximately 80% objective response rates in dogs, cats, and horses with minimal systemic toxicity and good safety profiles across diverse tumour histologies. The method's particular advantage lies in its ability to circumvent poor drug bioavailability at the tumour site whilst avoiding the systemic side-effects associated with conventional chemotherapy, making it particularly suitable for solitary or multiple cutaneous lesions that are difficult to manage surgically or resistant to standard treatments. For equine and small animal practitioners, electrochemotherapy merits consideration as either a primary treatment for inoperable tumours or as an adjuvant tool following incomplete surgical excision, potentially offering clients a tissue-sparing alternative with favourable outcomes. As clinical application protocols mature, this technique could become a valuable addition to the oncological toolkit, particularly for managing recurrent or multifocal disease where traditional chemotherapy tolerability or surgical options are limited.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Electrochemotherapy offers a highly effective treatment option for cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors in equine patients, with approximately 80% success rate and minimal toxicity
- •This technique can be used as a standalone treatment for solitary or multiple tumors, or combined with surgery, providing flexibility in treatment planning
- •The procedure has demonstrated safety and effectiveness across multiple tumor types in horses, making it a valuable tool for equine practitioners managing oncology cases
Key Findings
- •Electrochemotherapy achieved approximately 80% long-lasting objective responses in cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors across cats, dogs, and horses
- •Clinical effectiveness in veterinary oncology was consistent with human studies showing 80-85% objective response rates
- •Procedure demonstrated minimal toxicity and safety profile in preclinical and clinical studies
- •Electrochemotherapy is applicable to tumors of different histologic types and can be used as primary treatment or adjuvant to surgery