Page 6 - Paws and Hooves - Autumn 2021

ACT funds new RVC Equine has long been at the

forefront of furthering equine oncology
treatment for with use of new chemotherapeutic drugs
and multi-modal treatment regimes. More
equine cancers recently, Electro Chemotherapy has
greatly enhanced the RVC’s ability to
successfully treat skin cancer in horses.
The Thermofield unit will add to the
team’s growing repertoire of treatment
options. Apart from its additional anti-
tumour properties, a main advantage of
he ACT has funded hyperthermia is that general anaesthesia
T pioneering new equipment is not required, reducing treatment cost
for RVC Equine Practice for
the treatment of equine skin and risk to the patient, and enabling
successive treatments. The team will
cancers. Skin tumours are very also be trialling a combination of the
common in horses however due to treatments outlined here to determine
their locations surgery is often the optimal treatment for equine
impossible. Injection of skin cancers.
chemotherapeutic agents alone is only
partially successful as drugs do not
readily penetrate tumour cells.
The Thermofield unit offers a pioneering
treatment option. The application of heat
to a tumour in combination with local
chemotherapy increases uptake of drugs
and improves their effects. The heat also
activates the patient’s immune system
and directly damages tumour cells by
suppressing new vessel growth and
killing cancer stem-like cells. Treatment
also decreases pain in the area, making
the patient more comfortable, and is
very well tolerated with few side effects.
This technique can be used alone or in
combination with surgery on tumours that
have been reduced in size.

RVC Equine has

long been at

the forefront of

furthering equine

oncology

6 6 Paws & Hooves Autumn 2021