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Squamous cell carcinoma
Introduction
- A common (3rd most prevalent tumor in cats), malignant neoplastic disorder.
- Often on the ears, nose or lower eyelid of white cats
. - Cause: UV induced, actinic keratosis may precede. Papillomavirus.
- Signs: erosive or ulcerative lesions typically of nasal planum or ear tips but may affect other sites and can manifest as a proliferative mass. Lesions in multiple sites for Bowen’s disease (in situ SCCs).
- Diagnosis: histopathology.
- Treatment: surgical resection or radiotherapy are most effective treatments. Photodynamic therapy, cryosurgery for superficial lesions. Electrochemotherapy.
- Prognosis: fair- locally invasive but slow to metastasize.
Presenting signs
- Proliferative or ulcerative lesions, typically on the pinna , nose Squamous cell carcinoma: nasal planum
, lips 
or eyelids 
of non-pigmented or lightly pigmented skin.
- Multicentric squamous cell carcinoma in situ = Bowen's disease Skin: Bowenoid in situ carcinoma.
Geographic incidence
- Nasal, eyelid and ear-tip locations more common in areas of high sunlight (solar radiation)
.
Age predisposition
- Older cats, >10 years of age.
- Neonatal for congenital presentation.
Breed/Species predisposition
- White short haired cats.
- Siamese Siamese, Persians Persians, Himalayans are less likely to develop cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
Cost considerations
- Surgery or radiation therapy are expensive treatments.
Pathogenesis
Etiology
- UV damage → actinic keratosis = premalignant lesion → invasive squamous cell carcinoma.
- Rarely arises at site of previous burn injury.
- Rare sequela to eosinophilic ulcer Eosinophilic granuloma complex on lip.
- Papillomavirus Papillomavirus.
Predisposing factors
General
- Light or non-pigmented skin.
- White cats are 13 times overrepresented.
Pathophysiology
- Ultraviolet (UV) damage to unpigmented skin.
- Malignant transformation of keratinocytes.
- Paraneoplastic hypercalcemia reported in 3 cases.
- Metastasis are rare (rate of 5.3%).
Timecourse
- Months to years.
Diagnosis
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Treatment
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Prevention
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Outcomes
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- dos Santos A, Ceolin Lamego E, Müller Eisenhardt L, de Vargas I, Martins Flores M et al (2023) Prevalence and anatomopathological characterization of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas with regional and distant metastases in dogs and cats: 20 cases (1985–2020). Vet Comp Oncol 21(2), 291-301 PubMed.
- Swan M B, Morrow D M, Lurie D M (2021) Pilot study evaluating stereotactic body radiation therapy for feline facial squamous cell carcinomas. JFMS 23(12) 1081–1088 PubMed.
- Carrai M, Van Brussel K, Shi M, Li C-X, Chang W-S, Munday J S, Voss K, McLuckie A, Taylor D, Laws A, Holmes E C, Barrs V R, Beatty J A (2020) Identification of a Novel Papillomavirus Associated with Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a Domestic Cat. Viruses 12, 124 PubMed.
- DosAnjos D S, Sierra O R, Spugnini E P, De Nardi A B, Fonseca‑Alves C E (2020) Comparison of two different doses of bleomycin in electrochemotherapy protocols for feline cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma nonsegregated from ultraviolet light exposure. Nature research scientific reports 10, 18362 PubMed.
- Munday J S, Thomson N A, Luff J A (2017) Papillomaviruses in dogs and cats. Vet J 225, 23-31 PubMed.
- Cunha S C S, Carvalho L A V, Corgozinho K B, Holguin P G, Ferreira A M R (2014) Radiation therapy for the treatment of feline advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Medicina Veterinária • Arq. Bras. Med. Vet. Zootec. 66 (1), 7-14.
- Tozon N, Pavlin D, Sersa G, Dolinsek T, Cemazar M (2014) Electrochemotherapy with intravenous bleomycin injection: an observational study in superficial squamous cell carcinoma in cats. JFMS 16(4), 291–299 PubMed.
- Schwittlick U, Bock P, Lapp S, Henneicke K, Wohlsein P (2011) Feline papillomavirus infection in a cat with Bowen-like disease and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Schweizer Archiv fur Tierheilkunde 153(12), 573-577 PubMed.
- Cunha S C S, Carvalho L A V, Canary P C, Reisner M, Corgozinho K B, Souza H J M, Ferreira A M R (2010) Radiation therapy for feline cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma using a hypofractionated protocol. JFMS 12, 306-313 PubMed.
- Sabattini S, Marconato L, Zoff A, Morini M, Scarpa F, Capitani O, Bettini G (2010) Epidermal growth factor receptor expression is predictive of poor prognosis in feline cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. JFMS 12, 760-768 PubMed.
- Munday J S, Dunowska M , De Grey S (2009) Detection of two different papillomaviruses within a feline cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: Case report and review of the literature. N Z Vet J 57(4), 248-251 PubMed.
- Peters-Kennedy J, Scott D W, Miller W H (2008) Apparent clinical resolution of pinnal actinic keratoses and squamous cell carcinoma in a cat using topical imiquimod 5% cream. JFMS 10 (6), 593-599 PubMed.
- Buchholz J, Wergin M, Walt H, Gräfe S, Rohrer Bley C, Kaser-Hotz B (2007) Photodynamic Therapy of Feline Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using a Newly Developed Liposomal Photosensitizer: Preliminary Results Concerning Drug Safety and Efficacy. JVIM 21, 770-775 PubMed.
- Rees C A, Goldschmidt M H (1998) Cutaneous horn and squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen's disease) in a cat. JAAHA 34 (6) 485-486 PubMed.
- Lana S E, Ogilvie G K, Withrow S J et al (1997) Feline cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal planum and the pinnae - 61 cases. JAAHA 33 (4), 329-332 PubMed.
- Baer K E, Helton K (1993) Multicentric Squamous Cell Carcinoma in situ Resembling Bowen's Disease in Cats. Vet Pathol 30, 535- 543 PubMed.
Other sources of information
- Withrow S J & MacEwen E G (2020) Small Animal Clinical Oncology. 6th edition. Philadelphia: W B Saunders. ISBN 978-0-323-59496-7 0 (Up-to-date reference on all aspects of small animal clinical oncology).
- Fox L E (1995) Feline Cutaneous and Subcutaneous Neoplasms. Veterinary Clinics North America: Small Animal Practice pp 961-979.