Successful treatment of equine sarcoids with cisplatin electrochemotherapy: a retrospective study of 48 cases.
Authors: Tamzali Y, Borde L, Rols M P, Golzio M, Lyazrhi F, Teissie J
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Electrochemotherapy for equine sarcoids: a pragmatic alternative to conventional treatment Sarcoids remain the most prevalent cutaneous neoplasm in horses, yet no gold-standard therapy has emerged; electrochemotherapy (ECT)—which uses electrical pulses to enhance cell membrane permeability and facilitate intracellular cisplatin uptake—offered a potentially effective alternative that had not been systematically evaluated in large equine populations. This retrospective analysis examined 48 horses treated with cisplatin-based ECT, documenting response rates and clinical outcomes across diverse sarcoid presentations. The technique demonstrated substantial efficacy, with the majority of lesions responding to treatment and recurrence rates favouring ECT over traditional modalities such as topical chemotherapy or surgical excision. For practitioners managing equine sarcoids, ECT represents a valuable minimally invasive option that warrants consideration, particularly for multiple or recurrent lesions where conventional approaches have failed or where preservation of surrounding tissue is desirable; however, access to specialised equipment and trained operators currently limits widespread adoption in equine practice.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Electrochemotherapy with cisplatin offers a new treatment option for equine sarcoids when conventional therapies have failed or are unsuitable.
- •The technique has demonstrated efficacy in a substantial case series and warrants consideration as part of the diagnostic and treatment toolkit for skin tumours in horses.
- •Practitioners should be aware that this technology requires specialized equipment and training, but may provide better outcomes than traditional approaches for this common condition.
Key Findings
- •Electrochemotherapy with cisplatin was successfully applied to treat sarcoids in 48 horses, representing the largest reported series of this treatment in equines.
- •ECT works by using electrical pulses to increase cell membrane permeability, allowing higher intracellular concentrations of the hydrophilic drug cisplatin to achieve significant therapeutic benefit.
- •This approach provides a novel alternative to existing sarcoid treatments, which are not universally effective.