Cancer: Toward a Humane Treatment for Canine Carcinomas

In a new clinical study, veterinarians at the University of Washington sought to determine the effectiveness of a treatment used in humans for breast cancer on the growth of canine epithelial tumors, one of the most common forms of cancer in dogs.   Carcinomas, which are malignant tumors of epithelial origin, account for 80 to 90% of cancers observed in dogs. They can develop from all types of epithelial tissue, most commonly in the skin, but also on the surface of the mucous membranes of internal organs such as the bladder or intestines. Their treatment can therefore vary in difficulty depending on the affected area and the feasibility of surgical intervention. Furthermore, current treatment options for dogs with carcinoma are limited by the tumor’s location and size in the animal, the financial and time commitments required of the owner, and the capabilities of local veterinarians. A new, effective, inexpensive, and easy-to-use medical treatment would therefore be welcome. Capecitabine is an oral chemotherapy drug that is well tolerated in humans and is used to treat a wide variety of carcinomas, including breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and head and neck tumors. The drug has a short half-life in human medicine, allowing for rapid dosage adjustments when side effects occur (nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, drowsiness, headaches, and stunning). Easy to administer orally, requiring no frequent visits to the veterinarian for treatment, and less expensive than most other treatment options (chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery), capecitabine appears to be an ideal candidate for trials in dogs. Veterinary researchers at Washington State University have therefore explored the effects of this drug in treating carcinoma in dogs. The clinical trial, which is still ongoing, aims to assess the efficacy of capecitabine while measuring the drug’s concentration in the blood to determine potential dosages and document any adverse effects. The dogs included in the study are recruited during veterinary consultations. They receive an initial dose of the veterinary medicinal product at the veterinary clinic. After a hospital stay of at least 24 hours to monitor for any signs of intolerance, subsequent doses are administered daily by the owners themselves for a total of four weeks, with a one-week break in the middle. Follow-up visits to the veterinarian are still necessary to monitor the progression of the carcinoma and the dog’s overall condition. According to the authors of the clinical trial, regardless of the results of their study, further research will be needed to demonstrate that the drug is safe and effective, even though this treatment is already showing promise. Capecitabine could thus quickly become part of the therapeutic arsenal in veterinary oncology.