Comparative efficacy of multikinase inhibitors in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma in cats

The use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in the treatment of oncological patients is reviewed. Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (FOSCC) is locally aggressive disease affecting the epithelium. It can rapidly metastasise to soft tissues and bone structures, causing severe pain and loss of function in affected organs. Recently, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, for example, drugs with active substance toceranib were used for the implementation of anti-cancer treatment in veterinary medicine. Currently, toceranib phosphate (commercial drug Palladia) is unavailable in Russia, making the use of drugs with similar mechanisms of action highly relevant. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of toceranib and sorafenib tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the treatment of FOSCC. The object of the study was 30 cats of different breeds with confirmed FOSCC. The diagnosis was established based on physical examination and results of cytological and histological studies. Computer tomography (CT) was performed to determine tumour localisation and lymph node involvement. The animals were divided into three groups: group 1 received sorafenib, group 2 received toceranib, and group 3 (control) received no anticancer therapy. Some cats in groups 1 and 2 underwent surgical treatment as indicated. The study assessed overall survival time and time to progression. According to the results of the study, the average life expectancy of animals in group 1 was 112.4 ± 29.1 days, in 2 — 98.1  ±  18.8 days, in 3 — 24.2 ± 3.6 days. The average duration of the non-recurrence period in the group 1 is 85,3 ± 17.1 days, in the group 2 — 86.8 ± 13.0 days. Therefore, In the treatment of head-region SCC in cats, sorafenib demonstrates efficacy comparable to that of toceranib and may serve as a substitute on the Russian market. Moreover, modelling anticancer therapy in small companion animals may inform the development of treatment protocols for human oncological patients.