Canine Cancer Nanoshell Therapy: New Mast Cell Tumor Treatment for Dogs–Veterinary Highlights
What if a solid tumor could be removed without surgery?
When your dog is diagnosed with a mast cell tumor, surgery can often be curable. It is, however, not enough trying to simply take out what appears to be part of the lump. Sufficient surrounding tissue needs to be taken out to make sure that all cancer cells were removed. That can be easier said than done, depending on the location.
Surgery is always an invasive procedure.
With JD’s tumor, for example, the veterinarian had a hard time finding enough tissue to remove.
The surgery was successful but trying to get the wound heal was not an easy task. Because of the location, removing sufficient tissue created the need for a skin graft. I loved the idea but the graft did not hold in a place of high stress. It mostly served as a fancy bandage.

How does canine cancer nanoshell therapy compare with cryotherapy?
I have read about cryotherapy approach. But the above treatment does the opposite–it involves selective thermal ablation. It is a combination of laser and nanoshell therapy. The idea is to destroy the cancerous tumor without damaging healthy tissue around it. The clinical trials started in 2017 and the results seem to be encouraging.
I think this is another idea that might either fade away or become a breakthrough. In any case, it is interesting and something to keep an eye on.
Related articles:
JD’s Mast Cell Tumor Diagnostics, Strategy, and Treatment
Source article:
Companion Animal Health targets mast cell tumors with nanomedicine