Evaluating Novel Therapy for Oral Cancer

Oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) are the most common oral tumors in cats. These aggressive tumors often do not respond well to treatments, and average survival time for cats following diagnosis is about three months. Looking for new treatments, researchers developed a novel strategy called nanobody-targeted photodynamic therapy that is minimally invasive and targets the tumor directly, sparing surrounding healthy tissue. In this study, the team will assess the potential of this therapy to improve the overall survival and quality of life for cats with OSCC. If successful, researchers hope nanobody-targeted photodynamic therapy also could be valuable in the treatment of other aggressive cancers for multiple species, including cats, dogs and humans.