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Equine veterinary journal2011; 44(2); 214-220; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00425.x

Successful treatment of equine sarcoids with cisplatin electrochemotherapy: a retrospective study of 48 cases.

Abstract: Sarcoids are the commonest form of equine skin tumour. Several therapeutic measures have been described but none is considered to be universally effective. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a new anticancer therapy that utilises electrical field pulses to induce increased cell membrane permeability to antitumour hydrophilic drugs, such as cisplatin. The increased intracellular concentration of the drugs has a significant therapeutic benefit. The procedure has not been previously reported in a large number of horses. Objective: To validate ECT as a novel alternative treatment for equine sarcoids. Methods: A retrospective study evaluating the efficacy of cisplatin ECT in the treatment of equine sarcoids was performed. Electrochemotherapy treatments were applied under general anaesthesia at 2 week intervals with or without prior excision or debulking. Electric pulses were directly applied to the lesions following intra-tumoural injections of an aqueous solution of cisplatin. Results: One-hundred-and-ninety-four sarcoids on 34 horses, 2 ponies, 11 donkeys and one mule were treated with ECT. The 4 year nonrecurrence rate was 97.9% for animals (47/48) and 99.5% (193/194) for tumours. When ECT was used as a single treatment, a significant influence of tumour size (ρ= 0.55) on the number of treatments required for cure was shown. When prior surgery was performed, there was a significant influence (P<0.001) of the excision quality (complete or incomplete) and the healing mode (closed or open wound) on the number of treatments. The most common adverse effect was a slight oedematous reaction for lesions located on thin skin regions. Conclusions: Results demonstrate that ECT, with or without concurrent tumour debulking, is an effective alternative for treatment of equine sarcoids.
Publication Date: 2011-07-27 PubMed ID: 21793876DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00425.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

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The research investigates a new anti-cancer therapy, Electrochemotherapy (ECT), for treating the most common type of skin tumor in horses, the equine sarcoids. The study validates ECT, especially when used with the anti-cancer drug cisplatin, as a viable alternative treatment for equine sarcoids, based on its high nonrecurrence rate and the influence of tumor size and excision quality on treatment success.

Study Objectives and Methods

  • This retrospective study’s primary goal was to validate ECT as an effective treatment for the most prevalent equine skin tumor type, known as sarcoids.
  • ECT, an innovative anticancer therapy, operates by boosting cell membrane permeability to hydrophilic antitumor drugs like cisplatin via electrical pulses. This increased permeability results in a higher concentration of the therapeutic drug within the cells, yielding greater effects.
  • The treatment process involved general anesthesia, whereby electric pulses were sent directly to the tumor location following intra-tumoral injections of a cisplatin solution.
  • In the context of this study, the ECT treatments were implemented in two-week intervals, with or without prior tumor excision or debulking.

Results of the Study

  • The ECT treatment was applied to 194 sarcoids across 34 horses, 2 ponies, 11 donkeys, and a mule, indicating a broad test sample.
  • Successful outcomes were indicated by the high nonrecurrence rate, with 97.9% of the treated animals (47 out of 48) and 99.5% of the tumors (193 out of 194) showing no resurfacing after four years.
  • The size of the tumor was found to significantly influence the number of treatments required for complete removal, especially when ECT was used as a singular treatment method.
  • Moreover, when prior surgery was conducted, the quality of the excision and the healing mode significantly affected the number of treatments required.
  • The most usual side effect was a mild oedematous response for lesions on thin skin areas.

Conclusion

  • Overall, the findings demonstrate that ECT, irrespective of whether simultaneous tumor debulking was applied, is an effective substitute for traditional treatments of equine sarcoids.

Cite This Article

APA
Tamzali Y, Borde L, Rols MP, Golzio M, Lyazrhi F, Teissie J. (2011). Successful treatment of equine sarcoids with cisplatin electrochemotherapy: a retrospective study of 48 cases. Equine Vet J, 44(2), 214-220. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00425.x

Publication

ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 44
Issue: 2
Pages: 214-220

Researcher Affiliations

Tamzali, Y
  • Equine Internal Medicine, and Educational Unit of Biostatistics, Université de Toulouse, INP, ENVT, Toulouse, France. y.tamzali@envt.fr
Borde, L
    Rols, M P
      Golzio, M
        Lyazrhi, F
          Teissie, J

            MeSH Terms

            • Animals
            • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
            • Cisplatin / therapeutic use
            • Electrochemotherapy / methods
            • Electrochemotherapy / veterinary
            • Female
            • Horse Diseases / therapy
            • Horses
            • Male
            • Retrospective Studies
            • Skin Neoplasms / therapy
            • Skin Neoplasms / veterinary

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