Feline Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Clinical Manifestations and Literature Review

Abstract

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most commonly encountered malignant oral tumor in cats. The etiology of this locally invasive tumor is likely multifactorial. Several risk factors have been identified, including the use of flea collars, and a history of feeding canned food and canned tuna. Clinical signs vary depending on tumor location. The tumor commonly arises from the gingiva and mucosa of the maxilla, mandible, tongue, sublingual area, or tonsillar region. Maxillary SCC commonly presents clinically as an ulcerative lesion, whereas mandibular SCC is commonly proliferative, expansile, and firm. Lingual/sublingual SCC may be ulcerative, necrotic, infiltrative, or proliferative. In general, feline oral SCC is an invasive and malignant neoplasm regardless of its location. Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and combinations thereof have been attempted with rarely a satisfactory response. Currently, cures are obtained only in a small subset of cats whose tumors are amenable to complete resection, or where resection with microscopic residual disease is followed by definitive radiation therapy. A multimodal treatment approach likely offers the best chance of success. For cats with advanced disease, palliative care may improve patients' quality of life, albeit transiently. Sequelae associated with tumor progression and local tissue destruction often result in euthanasia of feline patients with oral SCC.

CD147 and Cyclooxygenase Expression in Feline Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

“…In the early stages, OSCC lesions often appear as small raised masses or areas of ulceration that can easily go unnoticed by the owner. By the time they are diagnosed, they tend to have already become invasive and are regularly associated with tooth loss and bone destruction when they occur near the mandible or maxilla [ 5 ]. Subsequent mortality via elective euthanasia commonly occurs when faced with this invasive disease accompanied by pain and anorexia [ 3 ].…”

“…The overall prognosis for cats diagnosed with OSCC is poor [ 3 ]. Treatment includes radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery, or combination therapy, but unfortunately, treatment efforts are usually not effective at improving survivability [ 5 ].…”

Metastatic submandibular acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma in a dog

“…It is common in cats, cattle, horses and dogs (2,3,7,14) and relatively uncommon in sheep, goats, and pigs (5,17,21).…”

Investigation of novel chemotherapeutics for feline oral squamous cell carcinoma

“…Despite multiple therapeutic options, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapeutics, and surgery, significant progress in increasing patient survival has been limited [ 22 ]. To date, the use of chemotherapy as a single modality of treatment for FOSCC has had limited demonstrated efficacy and has not been shown to be beneficial as an adjunctive therapy [ 23 ]. Toceranib was well tolerated in the majority of cats when treating for FOSCC with low-grade gastrointestinal side effects most commonly reported; however, survival was not assessed due to lack of data, protocol standardization, and wide variety of concurrent treatments [ 24 ].…”