Abstract
Background: Canine mastocytomas (mast cell tumors) represent a common malignancy among many dog breeds. A typical treatment strategy for canine mastocytomas includes surgery, chemo- and radio-therapy, although in many cases the therapy fails and the disease progression resumes. New treatment approaches are needed.Aims: The goal of this pilot study was to examine safety and efficacy of oncolytic Sendai virus therapy administered to canine patients with cutaneous or subcutaneous mastocytomas.Materials and Methods: Six canine patients, with variable grades and stages of the disease, received virus therapy, either as a monotherapy, or in combination with surgery. The therapy included two or more virus applications administered weekly or biweekly. Each application of Sendai virus (107-108.6 EID50) consisted of multiple individual 0.01–0.1 ml injections delivered intratumorally, intradermally around a tumor, and under a tumor bed.Results: The treatment was well tolerated, with minor transitory side effects. Of the six dogs, two did not receive surgery or any other treatment besides the virus injections. The other four animals underwent radical or debulking surgeries, and in three of them the subsequent administration of Sendai virus completely cleared locally recurrent or/and remaining tumor masses. Five dogs demonstrated a complete response to the treatment, the animals remained disease free during the time of observation (2–3 years). One dog responded only partially to the virotherapy; its after-surgical recurrent tumor and some, but not all, metastases were cleared. This dog had the most advanced stage of the disease with multiple enlarged lymph nodes and cutaneous metastases.Conclusion: The results of the pilot study suggest that Sendai virus injections could be safe and efficient for the treatment of dogs affected by mastocytomas.They also suggest the need of further studies for finding optimal schemes and schedules for this kind of therapy.
Highlights
Mast cell tumors (MCTs) are common canine malignancies representing up to 20% of canine skin cancers
Sendai virus generates a variety of antitumor responses among MCT affected animals, including complete tumor clearance without surgery, complete clearance of reoccurred tumors after surgery, and partial stabilization of the disease
The Sendai virus mechanism of action does not appear to overlap with any known mechanisms of currently available conventional MCT treatments, effective combination protocols of virotherapy with these treatments could be developed
Summary
Mast cell tumors (MCTs) are common canine malignancies representing up to 20% of canine skin cancers. Bulldogs, Boxers, Boston terriers, Rhodesian ridgebacks, pugs, Weimaraners, Labradors, and golden retrievers develop MCTs most frequently [4,5,6]. Some breeds, such as Pugs, tend to develop less aggressive and more differentiated tumors [7]. Labrador retrievers and golden retrievers develop more aggressive mastocytomas [3] Appearance of these tumors is highly variable; they might be represented by raised or very deep lesions. Canine mastocytomas (mast cell tumors) represent a common malignancy among many dog breeds.
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