A shelter dog in Cape Coral, Florida, has achieved complete remission from cancer after being treated with Tigilanol Tiglate, a drug currently undergoing human trials. Shandy, a mixed-breed dog at the Cape Coral Animal Shelter, was diagnosed with a malignant mast cell tumor that was difficult to remove surgically due to its location.
Stelfonta's Success in Veterinary Medicine
Veterinarian Kathy Vatthyam considered amputation before discovering Stelfonta, a drug containing Tigilanol Tiglate, manufactured by the Australian company Virbac. Stelfonta is approved for treating mast cell tumors in dogs. "Another option would have been to remove the arm, so she was spared having that drastic of a surgery," said Dr. Vatthyam.
The treatment involves injecting the drug directly into the tumor. "You actually inject into the tumor and it kills the cells right there on the site," Vatthyam explained. Within a week, Shandy's tumor detached, leaving only a small scar.
Tigilanol Tiglate: From Canine to Human Trials
Tigilanol Tiglate is now under investigation in human clinical trials as a potential cancer treatment. According to Liz McCauley, executive director of the Cape Coral Animal Shelter, this could be a case where human medicine benefits from veterinary advancements. "A lot of our drugs are started in the human realm, and we kind of reap the benefits of their studies, but this may be one of the opposite things, where they may reap some of our studies."
Mast cell tumors rarely recur in dogs treated with Tigilanol Tiglate, offering hope for long-term remission. Shandy is now available for adoption, ready for a new home.
The Origin and Future of Tigilanol Tiglate
Tigilanol Tiglate is derived from a plant exclusively found in an Australian rainforest. Researchers are currently exploring the possibility of synthesizing the compound to ensure a sustainable supply for both veterinary and human applications.
