Electroporation Enhances Bleomycin Efficacy in Cats with Periocular Carcinoma and Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head. (20th July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Spugnini, E.P.; Pizzuto, M.; Filipponi, M.; Romani, L.; Vincenzi, B.; Menicagli, F.; Lanza, A.; De Girolamo, R.; Lomonaco, R.; Fanciulli, M.; Spriano, G.; Baldi, A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of veterinary internal medicine. Volume 29:Number 5(2015:Sep./Oct.)
• Page Start: 1368
• Page End: 1375
• Publication Date: 2015-07-20
• Subjects: Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; 636.0896
• DOI: 10.1111/jvim.13586
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-6640

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jvim13586-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jvim13586-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Advanced carcinoma of the head represents a substantial health problem in cats for local control and overall survival.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim13586-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>Evaluate the capability of electrochemotherapy (ECT) to improve bleomycin efficacy in cats with periocular carcinoma and advanced carcinoma of the head.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim13586-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Animals</title> <p>Twenty‐one cats with periocular carcinoma (17 squamous cell carcinoma [SCC] and 4 anaplastic carcinoma) and 26 cats with advanced SCC of the head.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim13586-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Nonrandomized prospective controlled study. Periocular carcinoma cohorts: 12 cats were treated with bleomycin (15 mg/m<sup>2</sup> IV) coupled with ECT under anesthesia; 9 cats were treated with bleomycin alone. Advanced head SCC cohorts: 14 cats were treated with bleomycin (15 mg/m<sup>2</sup> IV) coupled with ECT administered under sedation; 12 control cats were treated with bleomycin alone. ECT treatments (2–8) were performed every other week until complete remission (CR) or tumor progression occurred.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim13586-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Toxicities were minimal and mostly treated symptomatically. Overall response rate in the ECT treated animals was 89% (21 Complete Response [CR] and 2 Partial Response [PR]) whereas controls had response rate of 33% (4 CR and 3 PR). Median time to progression in ECT group was 30.5 months, whereas in controls it was 3.9 months (<italic>P</italic> < .0001). Median time to progression for ECT cohorts was 24.2 months for periocular cohort and 20.6 in advanced head SCC cohort, respectively.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim13586-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Electrochemotherapy is well tolerated for advanced SCC of the head in cats; its use may be considered among loco‐regional strategies for cancer therapy in sensitive body regions such as periocular region.</p> </sec> </abstract>