Eletroquimioterapia no tratamento do carcinoma de células escamosas em gatos: uma revisão sistemática.

Abstract

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant neoplasm originating from keratinocytes, characterized by its invasive and destructive behavior. Cutaneous SCC is among the most common skin tumors in cats, representing a therapeutic challenge due to often late diagnosis, inadequate complementary tests, and the aggressive nature of the neoplasm. In this context, electrochemotherapy (ECT) emerges as a promising modality, as it combines chemotherapy drugs with the application of electrical pulses that increase cell permeability and, consequently, the effectiveness of treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ECT through a systematic review. Of the 135 publications initially retrieved from the databases, seven met the eligibility criteria, totaling 254 cats with a confirmed diagnosis of SCC. The studies were conducted in France (Diop et al., 2024), Italy (Spugnini et al., 2015), Brazil (Dos Anjos et al., 2020; Dos Santos et al., 2024), and Spain (Zabala; Sanmiguel Poveda, 2024; Ferrer-Jorda; Rodríguez-Pizà, 2024). The multicenter study by Simčič et al. (2021) involved institutions in Brazil, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The results show that EQT is an effective and safe alternative for controlling CCE in cats. Clinical staging, the presence of metastases, and histopathological factors, such as perineural invasion, are prognostic determinants that influence the therapeutic response and survival of animals. Despite the high response rate, local adverse effects were frequent, while systemic effects were uncommon, manageable, and mainly related to the technique and type of electrode used.