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PloS one2024; 19(2); e0297366; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297366

Intralesional interferon alpha-2b as a novel treatment for periocular squamous cell carcinoma in horses.

Abstract: To determine the safety and efficacy of perilesional human recombinant interferon alpha-2b (IFNα2b) for treatment of periocular squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) in horses. Methods: Eleven horses (12 eyes) with PSCC were enrolled in this prospective clinical study with owner consent. Methods: Systemically healthy horses were included in the study following confirmation of PSCC via biopsy. Every two weeks for a maximum of six treatments, horses were sedated and perilesional injection of IFNα2b (10 million IU) was performed. Tumors were measured prior to each injection and at one, three, and 12 months after treatment completion. A greater than 50% reduction in tumor size was considered positive response to treatment (i.e., partial or complete response). Development of anti-IFNα2b antibodies was assessed using serum samples obtained after treatment initiation and compared with treatment responses. Antibody concentrations were analyzed using a mixed model. Statistical significance was considered p < 0.05. Results: Each horse received four to six perilesional injections of IFNα2b. Five of 12 eyes (4/11 horses) responded to treatment. Two of five eyes showed complete resolution of gross PSCC. No systemic adverse effects were seen. Local swelling occurred during treatment protocol in 6/11 horses but resolved without intervention. All horses developed serum anti-IFNα2b antibodies. There was no evidence of statistical difference in antibody concentration between responders and non-responders. Conclusions: Perilesional administration of IFNα2b was found to be well-tolerated in horses with PSCC, and induced tumor regression in 42% of treated eyes. Treatment failure appears unrelated to the development of IFNα2b antibodies.
Copyright: © 2024 Martabano et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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Publication Date: 2024-02-21 PubMed ID: 38381740PubMed Central: PMC10881003DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297366Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study tests the use of perilesional human recombinant interferon alpha-2b (IFNα2b) as a novel treatment for cancer around the eye area (periocular squamous cell carcinoma or PSCC) in horses. The treatment showed positive results in around 42% of the treated horses with no severe side effects, suggesting that it may be a viable treatment option for PSCC in horses.

Study Methodology

  • The research involved a clinical trial on 11 systematically healthy horses (with 12 affected eyes) diagnosed with PSCC, conducted with owner consent.
  • The horses received injections of IFNα2b (10 million IU) around the lesion every two weeks, for a maximum of six treatments.
  • The size of the tumors was measured before each injection and at one, three, and twelve months after the completion of treatment.
  • The appearance of anti-IFNα2b antibodies was noted after initiation of the treatment, and compared with the treatment responses.
  • A successful treatment response was defined as a reduction in tumor size by more than 50% (whether partial or complete).
  • The experiment also included statistical analysis of the collected data, marking significance at p<0.05.

Results of the Study

  • Each horse received between four to six injections of IFNα2b perilesionally.
  • Of the 12 treated eyes, five responded positively to the treatment, with two eyes showing complete resolution of PSCC.
  • The trial did not cause any systemic adverse effects.
  • Around half of the horses (6/11) experienced local swelling during the treatment protocol, but this resolved without intervention.
  • All horses developed serum anti-IFNα2b antibodies, although there was no significant statistical difference in antibody concentrations between responders and non-responders.

Conclusions

  • The study concluded that the perilesional administration of IFNα2b was well-tolerated in horses with PSCC and led to tumor regression in 42% of treated eyes.
  • The research suggested that the failure of the treatment did not relate to the formation of anti-IFNα2b antibodies.
  • While the initial results are promising, further research is needed to develop the treatment and refine the methodology. The experiment could also be expanded to include a larger number of horses to ensure more statistically significant results.

Cite This Article

APA
Martabano BB, Dow S, Chow L, Williams MMV, Mack MK, Bellone R, Wotman KL. (2024). Intralesional interferon alpha-2b as a novel treatment for periocular squamous cell carcinoma in horses. PLoS One, 19(2), e0297366. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297366

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 19
Issue: 2
Pages: e0297366
PII: e0297366

Researcher Affiliations

Martabano, Brittany B
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
Dow, Steven
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
Chow, Lyndah
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
Williams, Margaret M V
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
Mack, Maura K
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
Bellone, Rebecca
  • Veterinary Genetics Laboratory and Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, United States of America.
Wotman, Kathryn L
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Mather H, Stanley RG. Recurrence rate of corneal squamous cell carcinoma in dogs undergoing superficial keratectomy surgery. Open Vet J 2024 Nov;14(11):3063-3073.
    doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i11.35pubmed: 39737039google scholar: lookup
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