Adjuvant electrochemotherapy after debulking in canine bone osteosarcoma infiltration

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Oncology
• Biophysics

Background:

• Osteosarcoma, a rare human bone cancer, is common in dogs, presenting shared treatment challenges.
• Traditional osteosarcoma treatments like surgery and chemotherapy are often aggressive and inaccessible.
• Electrochemotherapy (ECT) offers a minimally invasive, effective, and safer alternative by combining electric fields with chemotherapy drugs.

Observation:

• This study details the first canine osteosarcoma treatment using bleomycin and electrochemotherapy.
• In silico finite element method (FEM) studies analyzed electric field distribution for ECT efficacy.
• FEM simulations assessed treatment possibilities for bone destruction and tumor infiltration.

Findings:

• Both needle and plate electrodes are feasible for treating canine osteosarcoma, even with bone invasion.
• Plate electrodes excel at treating micro-infiltrations when used with conductive gel and direct bone contact.
• Needle electrodes are effective for external cortical bone infiltration, requiring multiple applications for cranial coverage.

Implications:

• ECT shows promise as a viable treatment for canine osteosarcoma, potentially informing human treatment strategies.
• Understanding electric field distribution is crucial for optimizing ECT protocols in bone cancer.
• ECT protocols evaluated did not reach current densities sufficient to affect brain tissue, ensuring safety in cranial applications.