title: Electroporation Enhances Bleomycin Efficacy in Cats with Periocular Carcinoma and Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Advanced carcinoma of the head represents a substantial health problem in cats for local control and overall survival.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the capability of electrochemotherapy (ECT) to improve bleomycin efficacy in cats with periocular carcinoma and advanced carcinoma of the head.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one cats with periocular carcinoma (17 squamous cell carcinoma [SCC] and 4 anaplastic carcinoma) and 26 cats with advanced SCC of the head.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nonrandomized prospective controlled study. Periocular carcinoma cohorts: 12 cats were treated with bleomycin (15 mg/m(2) i.v.) 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(2) i.v.) 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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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 (P < .0001). Median time to progression for ECT cohorts was 24.2 months for periocular cohort and 20.6 in advanced head SCC cohort, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: SAFU, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Spugnini
authors.affiliation: Centro Veterinario Gianicolense, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pizzuto
authors.affiliation: Centro Veterinario Casal Monastero, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filipponi
authors.affiliation: Centro Veterinario Casal Monastero, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Romani
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vincenzi
authors.affiliation: Centro Veterinario Gianicolense, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Menicagli
authors.affiliation: Centro Veterinario Gianicolense, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lanza
authors.affiliation: Centro Veterinario Gianicolense, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Girolamo
authors.affiliation: Ambulatorio Veterinario Dr. Lomonaco, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lomonaco
authors.affiliation: SAFU, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fanciulli
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spriano
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baldi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002415:Cats; D053672:Electrochemotherapy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005142:Eyelid Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D001761:Bleomycin
keywords: Biphasic Pulses; Carcinoma; Electroporation; Feline