Practical Principles of Palliative Care in Veterinary Oncology: Alleviating the Suffering of the Animal, Owner, and Veterinarian.

Background: Palliative care for pets is a developing area that encompasses animals with cancer and other chronic and degenerative diseases.

Objectives: To elucidate the guiding principles of palliative care in veterinary oncology.

Methods: This article was structured from an extensive literature review and addresses the growing need for improved palliative care in veterinary medicine.

Perineural invasion as a predictor of local recurrence in cats with squamous cell carcinoma treated with electrochemotherapy.

Introduction: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant neoplasm that accounts for approximately 15-25% and 70-80% of all feline cutaneous and oral tumors, respectively. Similar to that in humans, feline SCC can be highly invasive locally; however, its metastasis rate is low. Thus, effective local treatment may be curative for most patients, and includes surgery, electrochemotherapy (ECT), cryosurgery, or a combination of these.

Evaluation of the safety and feasibility of electrochemotherapy with intravenous bleomycin as local treatment of bladder cancer in dogs.

Local treatment of canine urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the bladder is a challenge. More than 90% of the cases invade the muscular layer, more than 50% develop on bladder sites with a difficult surgical approach and often requiring radical surgical procedures. This study aims to evaluate the safety and feasibility of electrochemotherapy (ECT) with intravenous bleomycin (BLM) as a local therapy for bladder UC.

Clinical Implications of Immune Checkpoints and the RANK/RANK-L Signaling Pathway in High-Grade Canine Mast Cell Tumors.

Mast cell tumors (MCTs) are the most common malignant cutaneous tumors in dogs, and they present extremely variable biological behavior. The interaction between RANK, RANK-L, and immune checkpoints is frequently detected in the tumor microenvironment, and, together, they participate in every stage of cancer development. Thus, the aim of this study was to characterize the molecular profiles of PD-L1, CTLA-4, RANK/RANK-L signaling pathway, and IFN-γ in primary tumors and lymph node metastases.

Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment of Canine Hemangiosarcoma: A Review Based on a Consensus Organized by the Brazilian Association of Veterinary Oncology, ABROVET.

Hemangiosarcoma is a mesenchymal neoplasm originating in the endothelial cells of blood vessels; they can be classified as non-visceral and visceral types. Non-visceral hemangiosarcomas can affect the skin, subcutaneous tissues, and muscle tissues; visceral hemangiosarcomas can affect the spleen, liver, heart, lungs, kidneys, oral cavity, bones, bladder, uterus, tongue, and retroperitoneum. Among domestic species, dogs are most affected by cutaneous HSA.

Parameters of Metabolic Response to Surgical Trauma Induced via Unilateral Total Mastectomy Associated or Not to Ovariohysterectomy in Dogs.

Surgical excision of solid tumors is required for local control of neoplasms. However, surgical trauma can stimulate the release of proangiogenic growth factors, suppressing cell-mediated immunity and favoring the development of micrometastases and progression of residual disease. The present study aimed to evaluate the intensity of the metabolic response to trauma induced via unilateral mastectomy in bitches with mammary neoplasia, the consequences of its joint performance with ovariohysterectomy, and their respective effects on the organic response.

Accuracy of B-mode ultrasound and ARFI elastography in predicting malignancy of canine splenic lesions.

The objective was to evaluate the accuracy of B-mode ultrasonography and ARFI elastography in detecting malignancy in canine splenic lesions. Thirty-seven spleens with abnormalities (16 benign and 21 malignant) from dogs of different breeds and ages were evaluated. Echogenicity, echotexture, organ length and height were evaluated using B-mode.

Diagnosis, Prognosis and Treatment of Canine Cutaneous and Subcutaneous Mast Cell Tumors.

Mast cell tumors (MCTs) are hematopoietic neoplasms composed of mast cells. It is highly common in dogs and is extremely important in the veterinary oncology field. It represents the third most common tumor subtype, and is the most common malignant skin tumor in dogs, corresponding to 11% of skin cancer cases.

Skin graft associated with platelet-rich plasma in correcting extensive injuries resulting from the resection of skin cancer chemically induced in rats.

Purpose: To evaluate whether using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the graft recipient bed after the resection of a neoplasia can influence its recurrence because this product stimulates angiogenesis, mitogenesis and chemotaxis.

Methods: A study with 30 rats Wistar (Rattus norvegicus albinus), which were separated into group A (induction of carcinogenesis, PRP in the postoperative period) and group B (induction of carcinogenesis, absence of PRP in the postoperative period), with 15 animals in each. Carcinogenesis was induced on the skin of the animals' chest by the topical application of 0.

Malignancy prediction of cutaneous and subcutaneous neoplasms in canines using B-mode ultrasonography, Doppler, and ARFI elastography.

Background: Cutaneous and subcutaneous neoplasms are highly prevalent in dogs, ranging from benign to highly aggressive and metastatic lesions. The diagnosis is obtained through histopathology, however it is an invasive technique that may take a long time to obtain the result, delaying the beginning of the adequate treatment. Thus, there is a need for non-invasive tests that can help in the early diagnosis of this type of cancer.

VEGF Expression, Cellular Infiltration, and Intratumoral Collagen Levels after Electroporation-Based Treatment of Dogs with Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Canine cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common type of skin cancer in tropical countries and is generally associated with exposure to solar ultraviolet light. It has a low metastatic rate, and local treatments, such as electrochemotherapy (ECT), promote long-term control or even complete remission. This study aimed to evaluate pre- and post-ECT treatment expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and CD31, cellular infiltration, and intratumoral collagen levels in dogs with cutaneous SCC.

Ultrasonographic assessment of renal perfusion in bitches with mammary carcinoma treated with long-term carprofen.

The aim of this study was to evaluate renal hemodynamics, routine clinical and laboratory parameters used to estimate renal function, and clinical evolution during six months in bitches with mammary carcinomas that underwent mastectomy and were treated (TG) or not (CG) with carprofen for three months after surgery. Twenty-six bitches with mammary carcinoma were equally distributed into TG that received carprofen 4.4 mg/kg/day for 90 days and CG that did not receive anti-inflammatory medication.

Use of thermography in skin grafts after the application of therapeutic ultrasound in Wistar rats.

Purpose To analyze changes in the thermal pattern in the skin graft receptor bed, after the use of therapeutic ultrasound through the thermographic images. Methods Eighteen Rattus norvegicus albinus Wistar, separated into two groups: GST groups (without tumor and without treatment with ultrasound) and GT (with tumor and treatment with ultrasound). In the GT group, induction of carcinogenesis was performed by single intradermal application of 0.

Response dataset from canine extramedullary plasmacytoma treated with lipophobic drugs enhanced by electroporation.

Over the past 15 years, lipophobic drugs, such as bleomycin and cisplatin, have been used combined with electroporation, which promotes their uptake through the cell membrane. The present data describe general findings following electrochemotherapy and how plasmacytomas can respond to this technique. We will explain and illustrate specific outcomes during the remission process.

Outcome Following Curative-Intent Electrochemotherapy for Extramedullary Plasmocytoma in Dogs - Case Reports.

Plasma cell tumors can occur as solitary collections referred as extramedullary plasmocytoma (EMP). The present report describes four cases of EMP treated with a local nonthermal ablative approach. Four dogs were diagnosed with extramedullary plasmocytomas (EMP) in different body regions (oral cavity, digits, and lip).

Prognostic phenotypic classification for canine mammary tumors.

Mammary neoplasms are a heterogeneous form of disease, and in order to determine its course and biological features with more accuracy, investigations based on tumor phenotypes are required. The aim of the present study was to propose and validate a phenotypic classification for canine mammary tumors and to assess any association between clinicopathological characteristics, survival and prognosis. For the immunohistochemistry analysis, the primary antibodies against estrogen receptor-α, progesterone receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2)/neu and E-cadherin were used.

Topical and intradermal delivery of PpIX precursors for photodynamic therapy with intense pulsed light on porcine skin model.

In order to purposely decrease the time of the photodynamic therapy (PDT) sessions, this study evaluated the effects of PDT using topical and intradermal delivery of two protoporphyrin (PpIX) precursors with intense pulsed light (IPL) as irradiation source. This study was performed on porcine skin model, using an IPL commercial device (Intense Pulse Light, HKS801). IPL effect on different administration methods of two PpIX precursors (ALA and MAL) was investigated: a topical cream application and an intradermal application using a needle-free, high-pressure injection system.

Intranasal Osteosarcoma in a Dog-A Case Report.

Osteosarcoma is the most commonly reported bone tumor in dogs, typically affecting the axial and appendicular skeleton. Involvement of the paranasal sinuses and the nasal cavity is extremely rare. This report describes a 6-year-old, female, cross-breed dog presented with signs of 90 days duration and diagnosed with a mass located in the right nasal cavity.

Radical Cystectomy and Cutaneous Ureterostomy in 4 Dogs with Trigonal Transitional Cell Carcinoma: Description of Technique and Case Series.

Objective: To describe radical cystectomy followed by cutaneous ureterostomy as a treatment of invasive bladder neoplasia in dogs.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Animals: Client-owned dogs with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder trigone (n=4).

Fluorescence evaluations for porphyrin formation during topical PDT using ALA and methyl-ALA mixtures in pig skin models.

Background: Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) using Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and derivative molecules as topical medication and as a precursor of protoporphyrin (PPIX), is limited due to low permeation through skin or efficiency in porphyrin production. This behavior affects the production and homogeneity of PPIX distribution on superficial skin and in the deeper skin layers. Many authors propose alternatives to solve this such as, modification in the ALA and derivativemolecules, modifying the chemical properties of emulsion external phase or incorporating a delivery system to the emulsion.

Assessment of ALA-induced PpIX production in porcine skin pretreated with microneedles.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is used for skin treatments of premalignant and cancer lesions and recognized as a non-invasive technique that combines tissue photosensitization and subsequent exposure to light to induce cell death. However, it is limited to the treatment of superficial lesions, mainly due to the low cream penetration. Therefore, the improvement of transdermal distribution of aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is needed.

Transmissible [corrected] dog cancer genome reveals the origin and history of an ancient cell lineage.

Canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT) is the oldest known somatic cell lineage. It is a transmissible cancer that propagates naturally in dogs. We sequenced the genomes of two CTVT tumors and found that CTVT has acquired 1.

Effects of isoflurane on Tei-index of myocardial performance in healthy dogs.

Recently, the Tei-index, a noninvasive index that combines systolic and diastolic time intervals, has been proposed to assess global cardiac performance. However, the effects of isoflurane on the Tei-index have not been characterized. This study aimed at studying the effects of 1.