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Injecting interferon alpha-2b (INFα-2b) may provide a new treatment for periocular squamous cell carcinoma in horses according to a recent report.
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a type of skin cancer that commonly affects horses.
SCC typically appears as nodules or masses on the skin or mucous membranes. These lesions can vary in size and colour but often appear ulcerated or crusted. SCC commonly affects areas with less pigment or areas exposed to sunlight, such as the eyelids, lips, and genital regions.
Various treatment options may be considered including surgical excision, cryotherapy (freezing), laser therapy, topical medications, and radiation therapy.
A recent clinical investigation conducted by Brittany B. Martabano and colleagues from Colorado State University explored the efficacy of intralesional interferon alpha-2b (INFα-2b) treatment in 11 horses (12 eyes) diagnosed with periarticular squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC). The comprehensive findings of this study have been published in PLOS One.
Before commencing treatment, all horses underwent biopsy confirmation of PSCC diagnosis and were deemed healthy otherwise.
The treatment regimen involved injections, under sedation, of 10 million IU of INFα-2b every two weeks for a maximum of six sessions. The research team assessed the response by measuring lesion sizes before each treatment and subsequently at one, three, and twelve months after the end of the course of treatment. A response was considered positive if there was a reduction in tumour size exceeding 50%.
The researchers also checked for the development of antibodies against INFα-2b and assessed their potential impact on treatment response.
Results indicated that five out of twelve eyes (four out of eleven horses) responded positively to the treatment, with two eyes showing complete resolution of PSCC. No systemic adverse effects were observed, although local swelling occurred in six out of eleven horses during treatment, which resolved spontaneously.
All horses developed serum anti-IFNα2b antibodies, with no discernible difference in antibody concentration between responders and non-responders.
The researchers conclude that injecting IFNα2b into PSCC was well-tolerated in horses and led to tumour regression in 42% of treated eyes. They found no association between treatment failure and the development of IFNα2b antibodies.
For more details, see:
Intralesional interferon alpha-2b as a novel treatment for periocular squamous cell carcinoma in horses
Brittany B. Martabano, Steven Dow, Lyndah Chow, Margaret M. V. Williams, Maura K. Mack, Rebecca Bellone, Kathryn L. Wotman
Research Article | published 21 Feb 2024 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297366
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