Electrochemotherapy offers a modern approach to treating cancer in dogs. This innovative technique targets tumors effectively while minimizing invasiveness. It represents a significant advancement in veterinary oncology, providing a focused treatment option for canine patients and improving outcomes.
How Electrochemotherapy Works
Electrochemotherapy operates on electroporation, a principle that temporarily alters cell membranes. This process involves administering a chemotherapy drug, often bleomycin or cisplatin, followed by brief electrical pulses delivered directly to the tumor. These electrical pulses create temporary, microscopic pores in the outer membrane of cancer cells.
These pores allow the chemotherapy drug to enter cancer cells more efficiently. This enhanced uptake can increase the drug’s concentration within tumor cells by up to a thousandfold compared to traditional intravenous delivery. A lower systemic dose of chemotherapy can be used, reducing overall side effects while maximizing the drug’s impact on the tumor.
Application in Canine Cancer Treatment
Electrochemotherapy is used in veterinary oncology for its localized and targeted approach to canine cancers. It is effective for superficial tumors, including those on the skin or in subcutaneous tissues. Common canine cancers treated include cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas, soft tissue sarcomas, mast cell tumors, oral melanomas, and perianal tumors.
This treatment offers advantages, especially for tumors challenging to remove surgically or where complete removal is not feasible. The chemotherapy primarily affects the tumor, reducing systemic exposure and side effects associated with traditional chemotherapy. Electrochemotherapy can also treat residual cancer cells in a surgical scar to prevent recurrence, or reduce tumor size before surgery.
The Treatment Procedure for Dogs
The electrochemotherapy procedure begins with a thorough physical examination and assessment of the dog’s medical history. Before treatment, diagnostic tests like biopsies, X-rays, ultrasounds, and blood work are performed to evaluate the tumor and overall health.
General anesthesia or a strong sedative is administered to ensure the dog remains comfortable and still. The veterinary specialist then prepares the chemotherapy drug, which may be injected directly into the tumor or given intravenously. Shortly after drug administration, a gel is applied to the skin over the tumor, and electrodes are placed on or around the cancerous mass. These electrodes connect to a pulse generator that delivers short electrical pulses to the tumor. The frequency and intensity of these pulses are adjusted based on the tumor’s characteristics.
Following the procedure, dogs are monitored for a few hours until they are conscious and stable, with many able to return home the same day. Most dogs may require up to three treatment sessions, though sometimes one session yields excellent results.
Outcomes and Managing Side Effects
Electrochemotherapy in dogs yields promising outcomes, particularly for localized and superficial tumors. Success rates, especially for skin tumors, have been reported around 80%, often providing longer-lasting results compared to chemotherapy alone. A complete and lasting response can sometimes be achieved after a single treatment session, though multiple sessions may be necessary for larger or more extensive lesions.
Side effects are mild and localized to the treated area, and may include temporary swelling, redness, or discomfort around the tumor site. Reactions are managed with topical ointments and a few days of anti-inflammatory medication. Severe systemic side effects associated with traditional chemotherapy are rare. Most dogs recover fully within two to four weeks, during which the treated area may show signs of tumor regression. Post-treatment care often includes preventing the dog from bothering the area, such as by wearing an Elizabethan collar.