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Cimetidine for treatment of melanomas in three horses.

Abstract: Cimetidine, an H2 histamine antagonist, was used in the clinical management of progressive, multifocal melanomatosis in 3 adult gray horses. Prior to treatment, the tumors had increased rapidly in size and number in 2 horses (duration of 6 and 27 months, respectively) and slowly in the third horse (duration of 48 months). All 3 horses were treated with cimetidine (2.5 mg/kg of body weight, PO, q 8 h) for 2 months to 1 year. During treatment, the number and size of the melanomas decreased substantially (50 to 90%). The progression of the disease was halted in 2 horses and controlled in the third horse, which is still being treated with cimetidine (1.6 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h). The horses in which treatment was terminated have not been treated for 31 and 41 months, respectively, during which time the melanomas have not increased in number or size.
Publication Date: 1990-02-01 PubMed ID: 2298676
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Summary

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The research article illustrates the use of Cimetidine, an H2 histamine antagonist, in treating melanomas in three adult gray horses and discusses the effectiveness of this treatment method on halting and controlling the progression of the disease.

Objective of the Study

  • The primary aim of this research paper is to examine the effectiveness of Cimetidine in managing progressive, multifocal melanomatosis in three adult gray horses. All three horses had previously experienced a rapid or slow increase in the size and number of their tumors.

Methodology and Treatment

  • All three horses underwent Cimetidine treatment, administered orally at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg of body weight every 8 hours.
  • The horses received this intervention for varied durations, ranging from two months to one year, based on their individual health conditions and progression of the disease.

Observations and Findings

  • During the course of treatment, there was a significant decrease in the number and size of melanomas in all horses, ranging from 50% to 90%.
  • The progression of melanomas was completely halted in two of the horses, and controlled effectively in the third horse.

Post-treatment Findings

  • The third horse continued to receive a dosage of Cimetidine, administered orally at a dose of 1.6 mg/kg every 24 hours.
  • The other two horses that ceased treatment have shown no increase in the size or number of melanomas for 31 and 41 months, respectively. This indicates a long-term effectiveness of Cimetidine treatment in controlling melanomas.

Conclusion

  • The findings indicate a positive impact of Cimetidine on the treatment of melanomas in horses. The use of this H2 histamine antagonist not only controlled the progression of the disease for the duration of its administration but also showed sustained results post-treatment.
  • Such promising results imply potential possibilities for using Cimetidine in the treatment of melanomas in other animals, including humans, warranting further research in this area.

Cite This Article

APA
Goetz TE, Ogilvie GK, Keegan KG, Johnson PJ. (1990). Cimetidine for treatment of melanomas in three horses. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 196(3), 449-452.

Publication

ISSN: 0003-1488
NlmUniqueID: 7503067
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 196
Issue: 3
Pages: 449-452

Researcher Affiliations

Goetz, T E
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801.
Ogilvie, G K
    Keegan, K G
      Johnson, P J

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Cimetidine / therapeutic use
        • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
        • Horses
        • Male
        • Melanoma / drug therapy
        • Melanoma / veterinary
        • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy
        • Skin Neoplasms / veterinary

        Citations

        This article has been cited 8 times.
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        2. Yi Z, Gao Y, Yu F, Zhu Y, Liu H, Li J, Murua Escobar H. Interventions for treatment of cutaneous melanoma in horses: a structured literature review. Vet Res Commun 2023 Jun;47(2):347-360.
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        3. Weber LA, Funtan A, Paschke R, Delarocque J, Kalbitz J, Meißner J, Feige K, Kietzmann M, Cavalleri JV. In vitro assessment of triterpenoids NVX-207 and betulinyl-bis-sulfamate as a topical treatment for equine skin cancer. PLoS One 2020;15(11):e0241448.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241448pubmed: 33151949google scholar: lookup
        4. Billi T, Karadima V, Tyrnenopoulou P, Apostolopoulou EP, Brellou GD, Diakakis N. Surgical excision of a malignant metastatic melanoma located in a skeletal muscle of the lateral thorax of a horse. Vet Med Sci 2021 Mar;7(2):297-302.
          doi: 10.1002/vms3.366pubmed: 32991055google scholar: lookup
        5. Steinmetz A, Gittel C, Böttcher D, Lapko L, Offhaus J. The use of a combined sliding skin graft and a free labial mucocutaneous graft for reconstruction of the equine upper eyelid after full-thickness excision of a melanoma. Clin Case Rep 2019 Mar;7(3):419-425.
          doi: 10.1002/ccr3.1992pubmed: 30899463google scholar: lookup
        6. Metcalfe LV, O'Brien PJ, Papakonstantinou S, Cahalan SD, McAllister H, Duggan VE. Malignant melanoma in a grey horse: case presentation and review of equine melanoma treatment options. Ir Vet J 2013 Nov 6;66(1):22.
          doi: 10.1186/2046-0481-66-22pubmed: 24196087google scholar: lookup
        7. Brosnahan MM, Brooks SA, Antczak DF. Equine clinical genomics: A clinician's primer. Equine Vet J 2010 Oct;42(7):658-70.
        8. Chapman SW, Metzger N, Grest P, Feige K, von Rechenberg B, Auer JA, Hottiger MO. Isolation, establishment, and characterization of ex vivo equine melanoma cell cultures. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 2009 Mar-Apr;45(3-4):152-62.
          doi: 10.1007/s11626-008-9156-3pubmed: 19057970google scholar: lookup