Sarcoids are the most common type of skin tumor found in horses. They can also be the most frustrating – though rarely life-threatening, they are notoriously difficult to treat, often coming back worse than the original.
A recent study has shown that using a feline interleukin-2 immunomodulator (ALVAC-fIL2) is a promising way to treat equine sarcoids. Interleukin (IL)-2 is used in human medicine to treat cancers like metastatic renal cell carcinoma and metastatic melanomas. It activates a range of T-cells, stimulating cell-mediated immunity.
The study team, lead by Dr. Corey Saba, used a genetically modified canarypox virus vector to test the theory on 14 horses with sarcoids, but which were otherwise healthy. The modified virus has been used in the production of West Nile and equine influenza vaccines to contain a gene that produces IL-2.
Each horse had their sarcoids measured and photographed, then injected with 1 ml of the ALVAC-fIL2, which was divided over four or five injection sites. The treatment was repeated one, three and seven weeks later.
The horses were monitored for a year after the final treatment. Researchers found that sarcoid size was reduced in 12 of the 14 horses; seven horses had complete remission and five horses had partial remission.
The researchers concluded that ALVAC-fIL2 is a safe treatment for sarcoids in horses.
Read the study here.
Read more at Equine Science Update.
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