Successful rescue of an apocrine gland carcinoma metastatic to the cervical lymph nodes by mitoxantrone coupled with trains of permeabilizing electrical pulses (Electrochemotherapy)

Canine apocrine gland carcinoma is a locally aggressive neoplasm that can occasionally lead to metastatic spread, thus mimicking the behavior of their human counterpart. In this paper we describe the successful treatment of a cervical metastatic spread of this neoplasia by using mitoxantrone selectively driven within the tumor cells by trains of biphasic pulses. The dog experienced tumor reduction from the first cycle of electrochemotherapy (ECT) and complete remission by the time of its fourth session. Neither systemic or local toxicities were detected during the whole course of therapy. The dog is in complete remission after six months from his last treatment. Electrochemotherapy is a safe and efficacious therapy for metastatic carcinoma and warrants further investigation.