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Equine veterinary journal2025; doi: 10.1111/evj.14502

Intratumoural tigilanol tiglate in the multicentre treatment of equine sarcoids and cutaneous melanomas.

Abstract: Intralesional chemotherapeutic administration represents an important treatment option for equine cutaneous neoplasia. Tigilanol-tiglate (TT), a novel molecule extracted from Fontainea picrosperma, an Australian rainforest plant, is registered for intratumoural treatment of canine MCT, leading to rapid oncosis and tumour slough. Evidence from horses is limited but suggests that efficacy may be similar. Objective: To evaluate the response to intratumoural TT treatment in horses with sarcoids (fibroblastic/nodular) and cutaneous melanomas. Methods: Two noncontrolled prospective multicentre clinical trials, one for each of sarcoids and melanomas. Methods: Cases were enrolled across multiple sites and treated by the same site-specific clinician with intralesional TT (sarcoids: 0.35 mg/cm3; melanomas: 0.2 mg/cm3 of tumour volume - Tvol; max dose 2 mg). Quantitative (Tvol regression) and qualitative outcomes (likely tumour free (LTF) per expert opinion) were recorded, and potential determinants of efficacy were assessed using random effects logistic models. A full clinical response was complete Tvol regression and a LTF treatment site. Results: Forty-one sarcoids and 97 melanomas were enrolled and treated. 73/74% of treated sarcoids/melanomas showed complete Tvol regression. 64/61% (sarcoids/melanomas) showed a full clinical response at medians of 546/247 days post final treatment. For both tumour types, this response was dependent on initial tumour volume (Psarcoids = 0.006; Pmelanomas <0.001). The predicted probability of a full clinical response was 6 times greater for initially small sarcoids (Tvol = 1 cm3) than for the maximum study volume (Tvol = 6 cm3). For melanomas in the perineal region, this was 11 times greater for Tvol ≤0.3 cm3 than for tumours ≥2.0 cm3. For melanomas, tumour location further affected treatment efficacy  = 0.005). In total, 5 adverse events were reported. Conclusions: Lack of treatment control and histologic/biomolecular follow-up data. Conclusions: The observed therapeutic efficacy of TT supports clinical use as well as early interventions in horses. Successful use necessitates knowledge of the drug's mode of action and management of associated local site responses. Unassigned: Die intraläsionale Verabreichung von Chemotherapeutika stellt eine wichtige Behandlungsoption für kutane Neoplasien bei Pferden dar. Tigilanol‐Tiglat (TT), eine neuartige Molekülverbindung, die aus Fontainea picrosperma, einer australischen Regenwaldpflanze, extrahiert wird, ist für die intratumorale Behandlung von Mastzelltumoren (MCT) in Hunden zugelassen und führt zu einer schnellen Onkose und Tumorablösung. Die Evidenzlage bei Pferden ist begrenzt, deutet jedoch auf eine ähnliche Wirksamkeit hin. Unassigned: Bewertung der Wirksamkeit der intratumoralen TT‐Behandlung bei Pferden mit Sarkoiden (fibroblastisch/nodulär) und kutanen Melanomen. Methods: Zwei nicht‐kontrollierte, prospektive multizentrische klinische Studien, jeweils eine für Sarkoide und eine für Melanome. Methods: Fälle wurden an mehreren Standorten rekrutiert und von standortspezifischen Klinikern mit intraläsionalem TT behandelt (Sarkoide: 0,35 mg/cm3; Melanome: 0,2 mg/cm3 Tumorvolumen – Tvol; max. Dosis 2 mg). Quantitative (Tvol‐Regression) und qualitative Ergebnisse (wahrscheinlich tumorfreies (LTF) Behandlungsgebiet nach Experteneinschätzung) wurden erfasst, und potenzielle Einflussfaktoren auf die Wirksamkeit wurden mittels logistischer Zufallseffekte‐Modelle analysiert. Eine vollständige klinische Entfernung wurde als komplette Tvol‐Regression und ein LTF‐Behandlungsgebiet definiert. Results: Insgesamt wurden 41 Sarkoide und 97 Melanome behandelt. 73% bzw. 74% der behandelten Sarkoide bzw. Melanome zeigten eine vollständige Tvol‐Regression. 64% bzw. 61% (Sarkoide/Melanome) zeigten eine vollständige klinische Entfernung nach einem medianen Zeitraum von 546 bzw. 247 Tagen nach der letzten Behandlung. Bei beiden Tumortypen war die Reaktion abhängig vom initialen Tumorvolumen (PsarCoid = 0,006; Pmelanomas <0,001). Die vorhergesagte Wahrscheinlichkeit einer vollständigen klinischen Entfernung war für kleine initiale Sarkoide (Tvol = 1 cm3) sechsmal höher als für das maximale untersuchte Volumen (Tvol = 6 cm3). Bei Melanomen in der Perinealregion war diese Wahrscheinlichkeit bei Tvol ≤0,3 cm3 elfmal höher als bei Tumoren ≥2,0 cm3. Für Melanome beeinflusste zudem die Tumorlokalisation die Therapieeffektivität (P = 0,005). Insgesamt wurden fünf unerwünschte Ereignisse gemeldet. WICHTIGSTE EINSCHRÄNKUNGEN: Fehlende Kontrollgruppe sowie keine histologischen/biomolekularen Nachverfolgungsdaten. Unassigned: Die beobachtete therapeutische Wirksamkeit von TT unterstützt die klinische Anwendung und frühzeitige Interventionen bei Pferden. Eine erfolgreiche Anwendung erfordert Kenntnisse über den Wirkmechanismus des Medikaments sowie das Management der lokalen Gewebereaktionen.
© 2025 The Author(s). Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2025-04-02 PubMed ID: 40170619DOI: 10.1111/evj.14502Google 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 research explores the use of tigilanol-tiglate (TT), a substance from the Australian rainforest plant Fontainea picrosperma, as a treatment for equine sarcoids and cutaneous melanomas. The intralesional administration of this substance has shown promise in studies on horses, demonstrating efficacy in tumor regression and the potential for a tumor-free condition.

Objective and Methodology

  • The aim of the research is to assess the impact of intratumoural TT treatment on horses suffering from fibroblastic/nodular sarcoids and cutaneous melanomas.
  • Two non-controlled prospective multicentre clinical trials were conducted, one for sarcoids and another for melanomas.
  • Cases were enrolled across multiple sites and treated by the same clinician with intralesional TT. The dosage used was 0.35 mg/cm for sarcoids and 0.2 mg/cm of tumour volume for melanomas, with a maximum dose of 2 mg.
  • The team used random effects logistic models to assess potential determinants of efficacy.
  • The quantitative and qualitative outcomes were recorded. A complete clinical response was defined as complete T regression and a Likely Tumour Free (LTF) treatment site.

Results

  • Out of 41 sarcoids and 97 melanomas that were enrolled and treated, 73/74% showed complete regression. Full clinical response was seen in 64/61% of sarcoids/melanomas at medians of 546/247 days post final treatment.
  • The research shows that the response to treatment was dependent on the initial tumor volume. The predicted probability of a full clinical response was 6 times greater for initially small sarcoids and 11 times greater for small melanomas in the perineal region.
  • The location of the melanoma was also observed to affect treatment efficacy.
  • The researchers reported five adverse events during the course of treatment.

Conclusion

  • The study concluded that TT treatment has therapeutic efficacy and supports its clinical use as well as early interventions in horses.
  • The limitation of the study includes lack of control group and follow-up histologic/biomolecular data.
  • The study advices that successful use of the TT treatment requires understanding its mode of action and managing the local site responses.

Cite This Article

APA
Labens R, Saba C, Williams J, Hollis A, Ensink J, José-Cunilleras ELV, Jordana-Garcia M, Bergvall K, Ruppin M, Condon F, Spelta C, Elce Y, De Ridder T, Morton J, McGee C, Reddell P. (2025). Intratumoural tigilanol tiglate in the multicentre treatment of equine sarcoids and cutaneous melanomas. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14502

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Labens, Raphael
  • Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia.
Saba, Corey
  • University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
Williams, Jarred
  • University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
Hollis, Anna
  • University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Ensink, Jos
  • Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
José-Cunilleras, Eduard L V
  • Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Jordana-Garcia, Mireia
  • Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Bergvall, Kerstin
  • Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Ruppin, Mick
  • Tableland Veterinary Service, Malanda, Queensland, Australia.
Condon, Frank
  • Tableland Veterinary Service, Malanda, Queensland, Australia.
Spelta, Caroline
  • APIAM Animal Health, Clermont, Queensland, Australia.
Elce, Yvonne
  • Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
De Ridder, Thomas
  • QBiotics Group, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Morton, John
  • Jemora Consulting, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
McGee, Cassandra
  • QBiotics Group, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Reddell, Paul
  • QBiotics Group, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Grant Funding

  • QBiotics Group Limited

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