Electrochemotherapy for Equine Skin Tumors at Woodside Equine Clinic: A Cutting-Edge Approach

At Woodside Equine Clinic, we are committed to staying at the forefront of veterinary medicine to provide the best possible care for your horses. One of the advanced treatment options we offer is electrochemotherapy, an innovative technique that allows us to effectively treat a variety of cutaneous (skin) tumors in equines—now without the need for general anesthesia as has been required in the past.

 

What is Electrochemotherapy?

Electrochemotherapy combines traditional chemotherapy with electrical pulses to enhance the uptake of chemotherapy drugs by cancerous cells. The electrical pulses temporarily open up the cell membranes of tumor cells, allowing chemotherapy agents to enter the cells more efficiently. This makes the drugs, such as cisplatin and bleomycin, much more effective in targeting and destroying the tumor.

Historically, electrochemotherapy required general anesthesia in horses due to the reaction the horses would have to the electrical pulses. However, at Woodside Equine Clinic, we have invested in a new machine that enables us to perform this therapy while the horse remains standing as the electrical field only acts locally and the response of the patient can be minimized with local analgesia (numbing with lidocaine). This advancement eliminates the risks associated with general anesthesia and makes the treatment process far more accessible and less invasive.

 

Minimal Side Effects: A Key Benefit

One of the biggest advantages of electrochemotherapy is the minimal side effects associated with the treatment. Horses typically experience very little discomfort, especially when tumors are treated early while they are still small. Because of the targeted nature of electrochemotherapy, it spares the surrounding healthy tissue, which means there’s minimal swelling or inflammation post-treatment. In most cases, horses do not require additional medications such as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) or antibiotics after the procedure, which simplifies recovery.

 

Treatment Approach for Smaller and Larger Tumors

For smaller tumors, electrochemotherapy is often highly effective with just one treatment, as the therapy can efficiently target and resolve smaller areas of neoplasia. However, larger tumors may require multiple treatments to achieve complete resolution.

In cases of larger tumors and discrete tumors, we often take a surgical approach to remove the bulk of the tumor before administering electrochemotherapy. This allows for two critical benefits:

1. Less Tissue to Treat: By removing a significant portion of the tumor, the remaining area of neoplastic tissue is smaller, increasing the chances of a successful outcome with electrochemotherapy.
   
   
2. Histopathological Diagnosis: The portion of the tumor removed can be submitted for histopathology (microscopic evaluation of the tissue by a pathologist), which provides an accurate diagnosis of the tumor type. This is essential for tailoring the treatment plan and understanding the nature of the neoplasia, helping to ensure that the most appropriate treatment is pursued.

 

Photos from recent cases we have treated:

Case 1 before treatment:

Case 1 after treatment:

Case 2 before treatment:

Case 2 after treatment:

   

 

Treating Equine Melanomas with IL-12

One of the most exciting advancements in electrochemotherapy is its potential to treat equine melanomas, which are particularly prevalent in gray horses. In addition to using traditional chemotherapy agents, we are helping pioneer a new technique involving interleukin-12 (IL-12).

IL-12 is a cytokine that stimulates the immune system to attack cancer cells. By combining IL-12 with electrochemotherapy, we can significantly improve the horse's immune response to melanomas, enhancing the body's ability to recognize and shrink the tumors. The electrical pulses delivered during electrochemotherapy increase the permeability of tumor cells, allowing IL-12 to penetrate more deeply and work more effectively. This treatment represents a breakthrough in equine melanoma care, offering hope for long-term management of this often stubborn condition.

 

 The Woodside Equine Clinic Advantage

At Woodside Equine Clinic, we pride ourselves on offering innovative and compassionate care for your horses. Our advanced electrochemotherapy capabilities allow us to treat skin tumors effectively while keeping your horse comfortable and minimizing recovery time. Whether it’s a small tumor that can be resolved with a single treatment, or a larger tumor requiring a surgical approach and multiple electrochemotherapy sessions, we are committed to providing personalized, effective treatment. With minimal side effects and no need for additional medication in most cases, this approach is ideal for owners looking for effective, low-stress options.

We are also excited to bring the latest technology, including IL-12 for melanomas, to improve the health and wellbeing of our equine patients.

 

If you have any questions about electrochemotherapy or are concerned about a skin tumor on your horse, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here to provide expert care and cutting-edge treatments tailored to the specific needs of each horse.  By providing this comprehensive approach to treating equine tumors, Woodside Equine Clinic continues to set the standard for veterinary care in the region. Stay tuned for more updates as we keep bringing the latest innovations in equine medicine directly to you and your horses!