Perfecting a New Treatment for Facial Cancer in Horses—Research Funded by Morris Animal Foundation S

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(Free-Press-Release.com) March 13, 2009 -- Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of tumor affecting the eye and surrounding facial structure of horses. In an earlier pilot study funded by Morris Animal Foundation, researchers at the University of Missouri developed a novel therapy, called photodynamic therapy, which showed promise in treating this cancer.

A second full grant enabled the scientists to continue to study and perfect this combination therapy in clinical patients. They found that treatment with laser light therapy immediately after injecting the photodynamic drug into the tumor resulted in more effective tumor-cell death than if they waited to apply laser light treatments. This combination therapy has proved to be promising at preventing tumor recurrence and has also resulted in better cosmetic outcomes for horses with cancer.

About the Pilot Study for Horse Facial Cancer Treatment

During a parade ride, Dixie, a 17-year-old white American Saddle horse, looked stunning with her red, white and blue trappings. But owner Rose Pasch of Cuba, Missouri, and her veterinarian, who was also attending the parade, noticed that Dixie's eye was irritated. They also found the cause: a troublesome growth. Although it was removed the next day, the growth kept returning.

"It kept getting bigger, and she'd keep her eye closed all the time, and it would water. It was hurting her," Pasch says. She was afraid she'd have to put Dixie down. On the recommendation of her blacksmith, Pasch took Dixie to Dr. Elizabeth A. Giuliano at the University of Missouri–Columbia. Dr. Giuliano was conducting a Morris Animal Foundation-funded clinical trial to treat periocular squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC). Dixie was a perfect candidate for participating in the trial. PSCC is a malignancy that commonly affects horses on the cornea, third eyelid or eyelid. Predisposing factors include breed (Belgians and Appaloosas), poor pigmentation (light-colored skin) and exposure to ultraviolet light from high altitudes or frequent sun exposure.

"Because the skin on the face of the horse tightly adheres to the underlying bone, we can't do certain reconstructive procedures," Dr. Giuliano says. "Without retaining the eyelid, it is virtually impossible to save the eye." Losing an eye is disastrous for horses, who rely heavily on sight,especially in work and performance situations.

The standard procedure for treating PSCC cancer in horses is surgery followed by chemotherapy or freezing or burning off the tumor, but the results are mixed. Dr. Giuliano's study focused an innovative treatment called photodynamic therapy.

"To my knowledge, this treatment has never been used in horses in any capacity," Dr. Giuliano says. After surgery, Dr. Giuliano injected a photo-reactive chemical into the cells where the tumor had been. She then treated the area immediately with a laser light

"Dixie was the very first horse I treated with this therapy," Dr. Giuliano says. "I did have to treat her twice, but she's been cancer-free f

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