First use of Cisplatin as Chemotherapy for Treatment of Surgically-Excised Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Dromedary Camels: A Preliminary Report

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the benefits of using cisplatin as a chemotherapeutic agent in camels with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) that were surgically treated with either a scalpel blade or an electrosurgical technique. Twenty adult camels with histologically confirmed SCC were randomly divided according to the method used for tumor removal into group 1 (n=10) using scalpel blade, group 2 (n=10) using electrosurgical technique. Five camels from each group were treated postoperatively with cisplatin. In group 1 treated with scalpel blade alone, all the 5 camels with SCC (100%) had tumor recurrence and died before the end of the experiment. In group 1 treated with scalpel blade with the use of cisplatin, recurrence was noticed in 4 out of the 5 camels (80%) with skin SCC and 2 out of the 5 camels (40%) died. In group 2 treated with electrosurgery alone, all the 5 camels with SCC (100%) had tumor recurrence and all died before the end of the experiment. However, in group 2 treated with electrosurgery with the use of cisplatin, recurrence was noticed in only 2 out of the 5 camels (40%) with skin SCC and only 1 out of the 5 camels (20%) died. The results of the present study show that in both groups of skin SCC, all tumors in camels treated with a scalpel blade or electrosurgically but without the chemotherapy cisplatin recurred and collapsed. However, recurrence in group 1 treated with cisplatin was not noted in 1 camel (20%) and 3 camels (60%) survived. Interestingly, in group 2 treated electrosurgically with the use of cisplatin, 80% of the camels survived and recurrence occurred only in 2 (40%) of the camels. The results of this study showed that 4 out of total 10 cases treated with cisplatin post-surgically continued to be alive for 12 months without tumor recurrence. In addition, this study showed that hemorrhage and tumor recurrences were less when using electrosurgical technique compared to sharp scalpel blade method. It was concluded that chemotherapy using cisplatin appeared to be effective postoperatively in camels with SCC especially if treated surgically with electrotherapy. Administration of cisplatin decreased the rate of tumor recurrence and increase the survival rate in the camels with cutaneous SCC. Although, this study is the first that use the chemotherapy cisplatin in camels with SCC, results are preliminary. Another study with large numbers of diseased camels is warranted.