What is it about?
Equine sarcoids and equine malignant melanoma are common skin tumors in horses. In this laboratory study, synthetically modified substances in plane bark were shown to exert anticancer effects on these tumor cells. In addition, promising results with respect to the topical (epicutaneous) treatment of these neoplasms were gained.
Featured Image
Photo by Yael Gonzalez on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Both cutaneous tumors can be a significant cause of economic losses, morbidity and mortality in the animals. Currently, the treatment of equine skin cancer is still challenging and efficient, evidence-based therapies are rare.
Perspectives
As an equine veterinarian, I am frequently confronted with skin cancer in horses and its effects on the individual animal, but also on the horse owner. The laboratory results generated in this study are of course not unconditionally applicable to the clinical situation yet. But they provide valuable pieces in a big puzzle which – when complete – could lead to an effective, marketable topical drug which reduces health risks associated with equine skin cancer and, consequently, improve the welfare of these patients.
PhD Lisa Annabel Weber
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: In vitro assessment of triterpenoids NVX-207 and betulinyl-bis-sulfamate as a topical treatment for equine skin cancer, PLoS ONE, November 2020, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241448.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
