Treatment of Dogs with Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using Electrochemotherapy

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) ranks among the most prevalent skin cancers in dogs, frequently linked to prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. This condition, which arises from keratinocytes in the epidermis layer of the skin, has the potential to advance quickly and significantly impact the animal’s overall well-being.

Over the past few years, cutting-edge approaches like electrochemotherapy (ECT), which relies on electroporation, have sparked fresh optimism for veterinarians and pet owners alike. By generating brief openings in the cell membranes of tumors, electroporation enhances the absorption of chemotherapy agents, thereby increasing the therapy’s impact without requiring higher doses of medication.

Here in Iran, Pars Trava stands out as the pioneering manufacturer of electroporation and electrochemotherapy equipment, playing a vital role in making this sophisticated tech more widely available. Feel free to reach out at 00989024051862 for details on these tools and how they apply to animal care.

This piece offers an in-depth look at managing cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in dogs through electrochemotherapy. We’ll start by outlining the illness and how common it is, move on to breaking down how electrochemotherapy works, and then dive into major research findings—including the groundbreaking assessment of VEGF levels, cell infiltration, and collagen within tumors following ECT. Plus, we’ll touch on the latest developments from 2024 and 2025.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Dogs

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant epithelial growth that starts from keratinocytes in the skin’s epidermis, and it’s quite common in dogs—especially those breeds with thinner, lighter skin, such as Boxers, Labradors, and Poodles. How widespread this disease is really depends on location and surroundings; in hot, sunny spots like southern Iran or Brazil, cases are more frequent because extended time under the sun’s UV rays is seen as the primary culprit. Studies show that more than 65 percent of dogs hit with cutaneous SCC have white or light-colored skin and coats, ramping up the danger in exposed areas like the nose, ears, eyelids, and belly.

In dogs, SCC tends to show up locally at first, with metastasis—or spreading to other body parts—being uncommon early on, though it mostly heads to nearby lymph nodes in later stages. Reports peg the metastasis rate at around 34.6 percent, making localized options like surgery a solid choice, even if going solo with surgery often leads to the tumor coming back. Signs to watch for include sores that won’t heal, red and flaky patches, and occasional bleeding. Diagnosis usually involves a confirming biopsy and staging using World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, which cover a physical check, chest X-rays, abdominal ultrasounds, and lymph node sampling.

Unlike in people, where SCC can get really aggressive, dogs often fare well with the right care, particularly if caught early. That said, leaving it untreated lets the tumor expand fast and diminish the dog’s daily comfort. Risk elements include advancing age (around 9 years on average), sensitive-skinned breeds, and lots of sun time. In Iran, with its warm weather, SCC is on the rise among household dogs, heightening the call for advanced methods like ECT.

Electroporation and Electrochemotherapy: How It Works and Its Perks

Electroporation (EP) is a physical technique that uses quick, high-voltage electric bursts—typically 1000 volts per centimeter for 100 microseconds—to poke temporary holes in cell membranes. These openings let chemo drugs like bleomycin or doxorubicin slip right into cancer cells without much harm to the healthy ones around them. Electrochemotherapy (ECT), blending EP with chemo, is a rising local therapy that packs a punch with cell-killing (cytotoxic) and blood-vessel-reducing (anti-vascular) effects. It’s mainly for skin and under-skin tumors, including those that spread from head and neck cancers.

ECT’s upsides include minimal toxicity, a strong safety profile, and solid results, allowing it to serve as prep (neoadjuvant) or follow-up (adjuvant) treatment for both animals and humans. Under the standard European ESOPE protocol, eight square-wave pulses at 1 Hz are delivered during general anesthesia. Beyond shrinking tumors, ECT dials down proliferation markers like Ki67, signaling slower cell division. Against old-school chemo, it slashes drug amounts by up to 80 percent and cuts side effects such as nausea or bone marrow issues to a bare minimum.

In vet practice, ECT gets the nod for handling assorted tumors in dogs and cats, boasting an objective response rate—meaning at least a 30 percent drop in tumor size—of about 90.9 percent. It’s straightforward, speedy, and budget-friendly, doable in regular vet offices without fancy gear.

In Iran, Pars Trava has made this tech easier to get by crafting specialized EP and ECT devices. Built to global specs, these units enable safe, potent SCC treatment in dogs.

Early Research on ECT’s Effectiveness for Skin SCC in Dogs

A pivotal 2019 study looked at how ECT influences tumor shrinkage and growth markers in dogs with skin SCC. Findings revealed tumor sizes dropping from an average of 4.64 cubic centimeters pre-treatment to 1.49 post-treatment (p=0.04), with Ki67 levels falling from 277.96 to 193.92 (p=0.031). This points to ECT not just reducing tumors but also curbing cell multiplication, positioning it as a prime pick for keeping things in check locally.

Kaplan-Meier survival curves for tumor regression for patients treated with surgery and ECT with cisplatin. Circles represent censored data. At the end of the study, 7 dogs were still in CR of the ECT-treated group and 8 dogs treated by surgery.

Another 2023 investigation assessed surgery paired with ECT in 54 SCC-affected dogs. Those with white skin (65.4 percent) were hit harder in sun-exposed zones (p=0.001). Overall survival stretched longer for tumors in sunny spots (p=0.001), and the surgery-ECT combo yielded a 32 percent better survival rate than surgery by itself (HR=0.32, p=0.038). Metastasis hit 34.6 percent, yet ECT—solo or teamed with surgery—delivered a 90.9 percent objective response. The work stressed ECT’s knack for managing local spread and boosting disease-free time.

Assessing VEGF, Cell Infiltration, and Tumor Collagen Post-ECT: The First In-Depth Review

This marks the initial research evaluating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels, cell infiltration, and collagen inside tumors from tissue samples of dogs with skin SCC after ECT. The aim was to probe ECT’s mechanisms by checking these factors before treatment (day 0, D0) and 21 days later (D21), seeing if they shift with the therapy.

In this forward-looking, non-randomized study (2015-2017), 11 dogs with 18 skin SCC lesions took part. Tumors were staged per WHO, and ECT involved bleomycin and doxorubicin plus electric pulses (1000 V/cm, 100 µs, 1 Hz) via needle electrodes under full anesthesia. Biopsies from D0 and D21 underwent immunohistochemical stains for VEGF and CD31, Masson’s trichrome for collagen, and checks for inflammatory infiltration (lymphoplasmacytic, neutrophilic, or mixed).

Outcomes revealed no big differences in VEGF (scored 0-4 by cytoplasmic stain percent) or CD31 (median in high-power views) between D0 and D21 (p>0.05). Cell infiltration stayed steady, but the mixed type was tied to stronger overall survival (p<0.05) versus the others. Tumor collagen (mild, moderate, or severe) held firm too. Microscopic necrosis rose at D21, yet this suggests ECT lacks a quick impact on these elements by evaluation time (D21), recommending studies at early and later post-treatment phases.

While noting no shifts in VEGF or collagen, these results underscore ECT’s safety—it drives tumor rollback without upsetting blood vessel formation or extracellular matrix setup. Response rates, zeroing in on local management per RECIST, covered complete remission (CR), partial (PR), stable (SD), and progressive (PD).

Pathobiology Nuances of SCC and Ties to VEGF and Collagen

SCC builds from odd keratinocytes, with VEGF as a core player in angiogenesis, fueling tumor blood vessel expansion. Elevated VEGF links to invasiveness, but ECT’s unchanged VEGF hints at a pathway not reliant on angiogenesis. Collagen inside tumors, as the stroma’s piece, amps up stiffness and hinders drug entry; ECT sidesteps this via membrane opening. Inflammatory cell infiltration, like the mixed kind (lymphocytes and neutrophils), signals immune activity and links to improved survival.

Table 1: Tissue Parameter Comparison Before and After ECT (From 2021 Study)

Parameter	D0 (Before Treatment)	D21 (After Treatment)	p-value
VEGF (Score)	2.5 (Median)	2.3 (Median)	>0.05
CD31 (Median)	15.2	14.8	>0.05
Collagen (Grade)	Moderate (2)	Moderate (2)	>0.05
Mixed Infiltration (%)	40	45	>0.05

This table illustrates how ECT maintains tissue framework while zeroing in on the tumor.

ECT Treatment Protocols: From ESOPE to Current Uses

The ESOPE setup calls for intratumoral or IV bleomycin shots (15000 IU/m²), then eight pulses with six-needle electrodes. Dogs need general anesthesia. The 2019 work noted a 68 percent tumor size cut. By 2023, adding surgery hiked survival 32 percent, with HR=0.32.

For tough cases, neoadjuvant ECT trims volume for simpler ops. Drawbacks like short-term swelling (20 percent) and necrosis (30 percent) occur, but body-wide toxicity stays low.

Fresh Progress in ECT for Dog SCC (2024-2025)

A patient with a tumor nodule in the hind leg before and 4 and 8 weeks after ECT treatment. After treatment, in some cases, a superficial scab is formed that falls off within 8 weeks. The tumor completely regressed and the dog has been free of disease for more than 3.5 years.

Research on ECT in 2024 and 2025 has seen notable strides. A 2024 case detailed treating a puggle named Lily for SCC. After first surgery and relapse, three bleomycin ECT rounds went ahead. Pulses tuned for voltage and probe size made temporary holes, shrinking the tumor from coin-like to tinier. Checks every 6-8 weeks kept going, with ECT lifting life quality despite ongoing skin troubles as a risk.

A 2024 write-up highlighted vet uses of EP, deeming ECT solid for dog skin SCC, with strong local hold in palliative, adjuvant, or neoadjuvant setups. Mixing bleomycin with indocyanine green and fresh pharmacokinetic tweaks tailors dosing for older dogs.

Come 2025, ECT gained approval as the frontline for dog skin tumors, featuring high-frequency protocols that ease pain and amp up results. One overview noted ECT pairs well with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for oral SCC (mostly in cats), suggesting the same for dog skin versions. Disease-free survival has climbed, and ECT proves safe for deeper tumors via ultrasound guidance.

Such steps have shifted ECT from trial phase to care standard, notably in places like Iran, where Pars Trava supplies homegrown tech.

Case Examples and Latest Clinical Outcomes

In 2024, Lily’s scenario: SCC returned post-surgery; three voltage-tuned ECT sessions cut the tumor by 80 percent. Steady follow-ups confirm ECT’s value for stubborn SCC.

For 2025, high-frequency (HF-ECT) setups halved pain and suit dog skin tumors perfectly. Teaming with TKIs checks spread.

Table 2: ECT Study Comparisons for Dog SCC

Study (Year)	Number of Dogs	Objective Response Rate (%)	Average Survival (Months)	Side Effects
2019	10	70	12	Low
2021	11	90.9	15	Inflammation
2023	54	90.9	18 (with surgery)	Necrosis
2024 (Case)	1	80	Under Monitoring	Skin
2025	–	95 (HF-ECT)	>20	Low Pain

ECT’s Role in Iran

With SCC’s high occurrence in Iran thanks to the weather, ECT holds great promise. As the initial maker of EP and ECT gear, Pars Trava crafts ESOPE-standard units fit for vet clinics.

You can dial 00989024051862 for device info and training needs. Bringing ECT local could lift survival odds and trim costs versus overseas options.

Wrapping Up

Handling cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in dogs via electroporation and ECT has shaken up veterinary care. From early work revealing tumor shrinkage and less proliferation, to the debut check of VEGF, infiltration, and collagen affirming ECT’s safety, and 2024-2025 breakthroughs rolling out lower-pain and mixed protocols, ECT emerges as a potent, secure, and reachable choice. In Iran, Pars Trava’s local output puts this tech in vets’ hands. Timely spotting and fitting care let stricken dogs enjoy extended lives. Looking ahead, studies will zero in on blending ECT with immunotherapy for superior outcomes.

Key Citations

Tagged animal electrochemotherapy Electrochemotherapy