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Canine cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the most common skin cancer in dogs, and, due to its low metastatic rate, local treatments, such as electrochemotherapy (ECT), promote disease control or even complete remission (CR). This study aimed to evaluate the gene and protein expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-2 associated X protein (BAX), the proliferative index and clinical parameters in dogs with cSCC subjected to ECT. A prospective nonrandomized clinical study was performed using dogs with naturally occurring cSCC that was treated with ECT. Eighteen lesions from 11 dogs were selected. The tumor size at day 0 (D0) had no impact on survival or prognosis (P > 0.05). Tumor samples had a lower proliferative index after ECT (D21) than before ECT (P = 0.031). The survival of subjects with Ki67 values lower and higher than the Ki67 median value were not significantly different (P > 0.05). Regarding apoptotic markers, there were no significant differences in the gene and protein expression levels of BAX or Bcl-2 at D0 and D21 (P > 0.05) or in the overall survival of subjects with different levels of apoptotic markers. In conclusion, there was no change in BAX or Bcl-2 gene and protein expression in response to ECT at the time points evaluated, but ECT was able to reduce tumor volume and cellular proliferation in cSCC.

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a b s t r a c tThe presence of secondary processes in electron multiplication under high uniform electric fields at atmospheric pressure in pure isobutane was investigated. The experimental setup consists of a Resistive Plate Chamber-like cell with the anode made of a high resistivity glass (2 Â 10 12 O cm) and a metallic cathode, on which photoelectrons are produced by the incidence of a pulsed laser beam. In particular, the dependence of the first Townsend coefficient (a) on the repetition rate and the intensity of the UV laser pulses was studied. The E=N range considered spanned from % 145 to % 200 Td. The a coefficient was determined by measuring both the primary ionization and the avalanche currents with the help of an electrometer, directly connected to the cathode. Of all the investigated secondary effects, only the ohmic drop across the resistive glass has been found to be non-negligible in the present experimental conditions and has been corrected for. The obtained values are compared with Magboltz simulation results and presented in tabular form.