PMC5155137_01
(A): The tumor lesion at presentation. A 15 x 12 cm ulcer on the ventral aspect of the horse penis. (B): Intratumoral delivery of permeabilizing electric pulses by means of a needle array electrode. (C): The lesion after one session of ECT. (D): The patient at 1 month recheck after completion of ECT: there is no gross evidence of cancer disease in the previously treated tumor site. (E): Histological appearance of the neoplasia: a highly cellular fibroblastic proliferation in herringbone pattern constituted by cells with scant cytoplasm, tapering elongated dark nuclei with increased granular chromatin and variable nucleoli (Hematoxylin and Eosin staining; original magnification X20). (F): The electroporation equipment with plate electrode (left side of the image) and needle array electrode (close up of the image).
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F1
An eleven-year-old stallion was referred for evaluation of an incompletely excised recurring penile fibrosarcoma (Fig. 1A). The histopathology report came back with a diagnosis of incompletely excised fibrosarcoma, characterized by a fasciculated growth pattern of spindle-shaped cells with scant cytoplasm and indistinct borders and invasive growth; high mitotic activity was present with abnormal forms (Fig. 1E). At presentation, the horse was bright, alert, responsive, and presented a large poorly healing ulcerated lesion on the ventral side of the penis measuring 15 x 12 cm (Fig. 1A). Five minutes after the injection, trains of 8 biphasic pulses at the voltage of 800 V/cm, 1 Hz frequency, lasting 50 + 50 micros with 300 micros interpulse (total treatment time per cm 3.2 ms) were administered by means of a clinical electroporator certified for veterinary application (Onkodisruptor , Biopulse S.r.l., Naples, Italy) using needle array and plates electrodes until complete coverage of the lesion was achieved (Fig. 1B, F). ACME S.r.l., Cavriago, Italy) 2,2 mg/kg IV SID. After two weeks the patient came back for a recheck appointment showing a clear reduction of the tumoral ulcer (Fig. 1C). At this time, a second ECT procedure was performed. The lesion continued its healing and after one month from the second ECT went into complete remission (Fig. 1D).