Treatment of Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumor with Electrochemotherapy
Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumor (CTVT) is a unique and contagious cancer affecting dogs worldwide. Unlike typical cancers that arise from the host’s own cells, CTVT is transmissible – the living cancer cells themselves spread between animals. Transmission occurs most commonly during mating, when tumor cells are physically transplanted from an infected dog to a new host.
. The disease typically manifests as tumorous growths on the external genitalia of both male and female dogs In free-roaming dog populations, CTVT is common and can be a persistent veterinary problem due to its contagious nature. Importantly, CTVT is one of only three known transmissible cancers in mammals (alongside the Tasmanian devil facial tumor and a hamster cancer), making it a subject of great interest in cancer research. CTVT typically presents as ulcerative, fleshy tumors on the genitalia of dogs (arrow), which can bleed and cause discomfort if left untreated. These transmissible tumors spread between dogs through direct contact.
Understanding the Impact of CTVT on Canine Health
While CTVT tumors are usually localized and rarely metastasize to internal organs, they are far from benign. Metastasis occurs in less than 5% of cases, meaning that in the vast majority of dogs the cancer remains confined to the original tumor site. However, the localized nature of CTVT does not mean it is harmless. The tumors can grow as cauliflower-like masses on the penis, prepuce, vulva, or other mucous membranes, often becoming ulcerated and bleeding lesions. Affected dogs may experience significant discomfort and pain – they often lick or attend to the area due to irritation. In addition to the direct health impact on the infected dog, CTVT poses a public and animal health concern because an afflicted dog can easily transmit the cancer to others through mating or even behaviors like licking and sniffing.
In essence, CTVT not only undermines the well-being of individual dogs by causing pain, bleeding, and secondary infections, but it also perpetuates itself by spreading among dog populations, particularly where stray or free-ranging dogs have frequent contact. Another notable aspect of CTVT is that, despite sometimes growing large and causing debilitation, the tumors rarely kill the host. Some cases undergo spontaneous regression after a few months, likely due to the dog’s immune response, but in most instances the tumors persist and continue to grow if untreated. They can become increasingly bothersome, interfere with urination or mating, and generally make life difficult and painful for the dog.
Thus, veterinarians consider CTVT a condition that warrants treatment even if it is not immediately life-threatening, both to alleviate the affected dog’s suffering and to prevent further spread of the disease to other dogs. Traditionally, CTVT has been treated with chemotherapy, and most dogs respond well to chemotherapeutic drugs such as vincristine, eventually making a full recovery. However, standard chemotherapy involves multiple weekly treatments and can have side effects on the dog’s overall health. Surgery is often not practical due to the location of the tumors and the risk of recurrence after incomplete removal. In recent years, a novel approach called electrochemotherapy (ECT) has emerged as a promising alternative or complementary treatment for cancers in both humans and animals, including CTVT. ECT offers a localized, targeted therapy that can eradicate tumors while minimizing systemic side effects, which is particularly appealing for treating diseases like CTVT in veterinary patients.
Electrochemotherapy: A Modern Approach to Cancer Treatment
Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a cutting-edge cancer treatment method that combines chemotherapy with short, intense electric pulses to greatly enhance drug uptake by tumor cells. Clinical experience in veterinary and human oncology has shown that electrochemotherapy is highly effective for solid tumors that are accessible to the electrodes. In fact, for many types of superficial tumors (such as skin cancers or subcutaneous masses), ECT achieves an objective response (tumor shrinkage or disappearance) in over 80% of cases.
Given these benefits, it is no surprise that electrochemotherapy has been gaining traction in veterinary oncology since its first trials in the late 1990s. Today, specialist centers in Europe, North and South America, and elsewhere routinely use ECT to treat a variety of tumors in pets – from skin cancers and mast cell tumors in dogs, to sarcoids in horses, and squamous cell carcinomas in cats. ECT is especially attractive for tumors like CTVT, where the goal is to eliminate an accessible localized tumor while avoiding systemic toxicity and preventing recurrence. By using electrical pulses to drive chemotherapy directly into the venereal tumor on a dog, a veterinarian can achieve a potent localized effect, hopefully destroying the cancerous mass and sterilizing it so that infectious cancer cells are not shed to other animals.
First Electrochemotherapy Treatment for CTVT in Dogs – A Breakthrough in Tabriz
In a milestone for veterinary medicine in the region, Pars Tarava has commenced the first course of electrochemotherapy treatment for dogs with CTVT in Iran. This inaugural treatment program took place in Tabriz, one of Iran’s major cities, and was conducted in collaboration with some of the country’s most experienced veterinarians. The choice of Tabriz for this pilot treatment underscores a collaborative network – Pars Tarava provided the equipment and technical know-how, while veterinary oncology experts at a local clinic provided clinical care and oversight for the canine patients.
The treated dogs presented with the classic transmissible venereal tumor lesions on their external genitalia. Under the new protocol, the veterinary team first administered a chemotherapeutic agent to the tumor and then used Pars Tarava’s electroporation device to deliver a series of electric pulses to the tumor site. The entire procedure was done under appropriate anesthesia to ensure the animals felt no pain during the electrical pulse application.
The goal of this first treatment course was to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of electrochemotherapy for CTVT in a real-world veterinary setting. Early indications have been positive – the tumors responded to the therapy, showing visible shrinkage and tissue necrosis in the days following ECT application (consistent with the expected mechanism of tumor cell death). The dogs were reported to tolerate the procedure well, with no significant adverse effects observed immediately post-treatment. Moreover, by targeting the tumor directly, this approach minimizes exposure of the rest of the dog’s body to chemotherapy, potentially reducing side effects compared to full-dose systemic chemotherapy.
While detailed clinical results from this first cohort of CTVT cases are forthcoming, the initiation of electrochemotherapy for a transmissible cancer in dogs is being hailed as a breakthrough. It demonstrates the viability of deploying advanced cancer treatments in veterinary practice within Iran, and it opens the door to treating other types of animal cancers with electrochemotherapy. By successfully treating CTVT – a disease that not only impacts individual dogs but also contributes to the stray dog population’s health burden – Pars Tarava’s team is showcasing how innovation in medical technology can have a direct, tangible impact on animal welfare.
The treated dogs are expected to regain a better quality of life as their painful tumors regress, and importantly, once cured, they will no longer be a source of contagion to other dogs in the community. Equally significant is what this development means for the future. With Pars Tarava’s electrochemotherapy devices now proven in veterinary use, Iran has established itself as a regional leader in veterinary cancer therapy. The knowledge gained from treating CTVT can be extended to managing other malignancies in pets – such as skin tumors, oral cancers, and mammary tumors – using electrochemotherapy.
Veterinarians in Iran can now access locally-produced ECT technology, which lowers barriers to advanced treatment and could spur more widespread adoption of this technique across the country and neighboring regions. In summary, the first successful use of electrochemotherapy on canine transmissible venereal tumor in Tabriz is both a medical and technological triumph: it improves outcomes for the animals treated and exemplifies how home-grown innovation by Pars Tarava is elevating the standard of care in veterinary oncology.
Pars Tarava: Iran’s First and Only Electrochemotherapy Device Producer
Implementing advanced treatments like electrochemotherapy requires not only medical expertise but also technological infrastructure – specifically, the electroporation devices that deliver the therapeutic electric pulses. Until recently, such equipment was produced only in a few countries. In a pioneering achievement, Pars Tarava (Persian Bioelectromagnetics) has become the first and only producer of electrochemotherapy devices in Iran. Pars Tarava, a knowledge-based company based in Tehran, has focused on electroporation and electrochemotherapy technology for over two decades, bridging academic research and industry to create home-grown solutions in cancer treatment.
The company began foundational research in this field in the mid-2000s and officially launched its first devices by 2018, leveraging local technical expertise to meet international standards. In 2025, Pars Tarava’s efforts culminated in the unveiling of Iran’s first domestically-developed electrochemotherapy device production line. This accomplishment has placed Iran among only a handful of countries worldwide with the capability to manufacture ECT equipment, and indeed the first in all of Asia alongside pioneers like the UK and Italy.
The electroporation systems produced by Pars Tarava use controlled electrical pulses to increase cancer cell membrane permeability and thereby significantly enhance the effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs delivered to the tumor. In other words, Pars Tarava’s technology enables the very electrochemotherapy approach that has shown such promise in treating cancers. The first Iranian-made electrochemotherapy device being unveiled in Tehran.
Pars Tarava’s domestically produced electroporation systems deliver precise electric pulses to tumors, greatly enhancing the uptake and potency of chemotherapeutic drugs. Not only is Pars Tarava the sole manufacturer of ECT devices in Iran, but it has also been a leader in applying this technology. The company’s mission has always been to translate cutting-edge medical technology into practical treatments that improve the quality of life for patients – and in this case, patients include our canine companions. After years of refining electroporation tools and demonstrating their efficacy in laboratory and clinical settings, Pars Tarava has turned its attention to veterinary oncology in Iran. This means bringing the benefits of electrochemotherapy to pets and other animals suffering from cancer, an area of medicine that is often overlooked in terms of technological innovation.
Conclusion
The fight against cancer in animals has entered a new era with the advent of electrochemotherapy. For diseases like CTVT, which cause suffering and spread among vulnerable animal populations, electrochemotherapy offers a ray of hope – a treatment that is effective, localized, and can be deployed even in resource-limited settings thanks to pioneering local manufacturers like Pars Tarava. By being the first in Iran to produce ECT devices and apply them in veterinary practice, Pars Tarava has solidified its unique position at the intersection of medical technology and animal health. This initiative not only benefits canine patients and their owners, but also contributes to public health by curtailing the transmission of a contagious cancer among dogs.
For veterinarians, researchers, and pet owners, this development invites a deeper exploration of electrochemotherapy’s potential. Pars Tarava’s success with the first CTVT cases is a stepping stone toward broader clinical use – setting protocols, gathering data, and training practitioners in the safe and effective use of ECT for various tumors. We anticipate that this will lead to more success stories and an expanded toolkit for fighting cancer in our four-legged companions. If you are interested in cancer treatment using electrochemotherapy – whether you are a veterinarian looking to refer a case or a pet owner seeking advanced care for your animal – please contact Pars Tarava at +989024051862.
Our team is ready to provide information, support, and treatment services using state-of-the-art electrochemotherapy technology. Together, we can improve outcomes for animals with cancer and embrace innovations that make a real difference in veterinary medicine.
