Introduction

Nanoparticles have a variety of uses in oncology. Specialized gold nanoparticles have been designed to passively accumulate in tumor tissue and maximally absorb near-infrared laser light converting it to heat resulting in selective hyperthermic cell death while sparing adjacent healthy tissues.

This pilot study was examining the effect of utilizing gold nanoparticles and laser induced photothermal heating (Nanotherapy) in a spontaneous tumor model for canine soft tissue sarcomas (STS).

Methods

Ten dogs with STS varying in size, grade, and location, were entered into a study over 18 months. Some of these tumors were advanced or recurrent after other therapies and were not excluded. Patients received a systemic intravenous infusion of nanoparticles followed by the application of 808 nm laser light using a diode laser with a specialized sapphire treatment probe 24 hours later. Some patients received multiple treatment applications of laser light over a period of several weeks. Patient responses and any toxicities encountered were documented.

Results

At the time of this abstract, all dogs achieved either a visible partial response (30%) or complete response (70%) to therapy and experienced only minimal toxicities. The median Progression Free Interval (PFI) was not reached in all treated dogs, however, if all patients developed recurrence at the time of this abstract, the predicted median PFI would be 289 days.

Conclusion

Nanotherapy can be used in canine STS patients with a low risk of toxicities and while providing anticancer effects. Further studies are ongoing in this patient population as well as other tumors.

Funding Information

This research was funded by Companion Animal Health in clinical patients.