Dr. Marlene Siegel, DVM
Vaccine safety has been a long standing concern in veterinary medicine. The association of feline soft tissue sarcomas with Rabies vaccines and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) vaccinations was made over twenty years ago and named Feline Injection-Site Sarcomas (FISS). Subsequent epidemiological studies have estimated an incidence of 0.3 to 1.0 Injection-Site Sarcomas per 10,000 vaccinations in the US and Europe while other studies estimate the risk of developing a Feline Injection-Site Sarcoma (FISS) is as high as 10/100,000 to 100/100,000.
Injection-site sarcomas in dogs, (Vaccine-Associated Sarcoma or VAS), have been rarely reported, but in those that get them, they appear to have the characteristics of FISS. In more than 50% of the cases in dogs, aluminum was detected in the tumor.
In the mid “80’s, research studies showed that Injection Site Sarcomas outnumbered sarcomas at non injection sites, showing an eightfold increase in the number of sarcomas diagnosed from 1988 to 1994 which correlated with an eightfold increase in Injection Site Associated Sarcomas. This spike coincided with widespread use of a killed rabies vaccine that contained an aluminum adjuvant and a large increase in the number of cats receiving a Feline Leukemia (FeLV) vaccine (which also contained an aluminum adjuvant) in the United States. Other vaccines, antibiotic injections, administration of subcutaneous fluids, Program® 6 month injectable (flea prevention) or trauma could induce tumor formation as well.
Vaccine related sarcomas arise from mesenchymal tissues, including connective tissue, cartilage, blood vessels, muscles, nerves or fat. The sarcomas are all locally invasive, characterized by having a ‘pseudocapsule’, poorly defined margins, and fingerlike projections that infiltrate tissue planes (project between muscles and layers of connective tissues). As a result, they tend to be difficult to completely excise, making local recurrence common. In addition to local invasion, they can also metastasize (spread) via blood or lymphatics.
Vaccine-associated sarcomas can include (but are not limited to) fibrosarcomas, neurofibrosarcomas, nerve sheath tumors, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, leiomyosarcomas, liposarcomas, and myxosarcomas.
The reason for these tumors to develop is not fully understood, but chronic inflammation at the injection site along with a potential genetic predisposition (suppression of the tumor suppressor genes like p53) seems to play a role in the transformation to malignancy. The inflammatory infiltrate, primarily macrophages, are frequently reported to contain bluish "foreign material” and may include giant cells. Aluminum has been associated with this inflammation and may play a role in cancer formation.
Trials with adjuvanted killed vaccines in 36 cats showed that 80% to 100% of cats had a local inflammatory reaction following vaccination and that rabies vaccination created a larger inflammatory response than did vaccination for FeLV.
Inflammatory reactions were most common with aluminum adjuvant vaccines, less common with non-aluminum adjuvant vaccines, and not seen with non-adjuvant vaccines. This evidence leads me to recommend using non-adjuvant vaccines, especially for cats.
Soft tissue sarcomas (STC) account for 7-9% of all malignant skin and subcutaneous tumors in cats. Tumors can present months or years after vaccination or trauma.
Injections site sarcomas are more common in younger cats than sarcomas at non-injection sites, with a peak at 6 to 7 years of age.
Most FISS are found subcutaneously and makes sense, because most injections are administered SQ. Evidence shows that the same inflammatory response occurs when the injection is administered intramuscularly but the tumor development may be less frequent.
According to an article published in the World Small Animal Veterinary Association World Congress Proceedings, 2004 by Gregory K. Ogilvie, DVM, DACVIM (Internal Medicine, Oncology) CVS Angel Care Cancer Center San Marcos, CA, USA, adjuvants used with killed vaccines appear responsible for much of the inflammation, though some sarcomas have been associated with modified-live virus vaccination too.
The risk of sarcoma development increases with the number of vaccines given at a site. In one study, cats receiving three to four vaccinations in the inter-scapular region were nearly twice as likely to develop a sarcoma than if they received one vaccine at that site.
Up-to-date information regarding research can be obtained from the Vaccine Associated Fibrosarcoma Task Force on the American Veterinary Medical Association website https://www.avma.org/vaccine-associated-feline-sarcoma-task-force-guidelines-diagnosis-and-management-suspected-sarcomas
Importance of a thorough workup for a suspected Soft Tissue Sarcoma
If a vaccine-associated sarcoma is suspected based on history, clinical presentation, and location of the mass, the following database should be obtained:
1. Thoracic radiographs 3 views
2. Abdominal radiographs 3 views
3. Blood analysis to include CBC, Serum Chemistry Panel, Thyroid, FeLV and FIV testing
4. Urinalysis (preferable obtained by cystocentesis)
5. Thymidine Kinase Type 1 (TK1-DNA Proliferation marker to detect cancer)
6. Feline Haptoglobin (inflammation marker for cats) and
cCRP (canine specific c-reactive protein, inflammation marker for dogs).
7. B12
8. Folate
9. Vit D
10. Magnesium
11. Heavy metals testing (Quick Silver Scientific offers a veterinary test that checks for 8 heavy metals and 8 micro nutrients).
12. Bioenergetic scanning
13. Abdominal ultrasound
14. Biopsy and cytology-fine needle aspirates (can be performed, but are not always a reliable indicator of neoplasia. Sarcomas typically do not exfoliate well, so a negative aspirate does not rule out cancer).
15. Pretreatment staging should include a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to more clearly define the tumor margins and areas of infiltration.
Treatment For Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Traditionally surgical excision +/- radiation has been the principal treatment modality for soft tissue sarcomas. Radiation comes with varying degrees of toxicity to other organs. Due to the extensive infiltration and invasion of surrounding normal tissue, it is imperative to resect a wide and deep (more than 2 cm) margin of normal tissue in all surgical planes around the palpable tumor (or as indicated on CT). While this is sometimes possible in larger species such as dogs and humans, it is rarely possible in cats.
There is very little information regarding chemotherapy in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas in cats.
As soft tissue sarcomas grow, they compress a cuff of tumor cells to form a pseudocapsule, thereby giving the false impression that the sarcoma is encapsulated, but evidence confirms there is extensive infiltration and invasion into surrounding normal tissue.
In a study of 84 cats surgically treated for soft tissue sarcoma, 60 cats (70%) had tumor recurrence an average of 3.5 months later with a median survival of 8 months. Tumors recurred as soon as 2.5 weeks and as long as 1.5 years after surgery.
Alternative Strategies
There are many alternative therapies, from herbs, homotoxicology, Ozone, Hyperbaric Oxygen, Full spectrum Infrared, High dose Vit C, Crystal Light Fusion and Low Level Light Therapy (also known as Photo Dynamic Therapy- PDT) to name a few. Each of these modalities are a topic in and of themselves and worthy of further investigation.
Cancers in general (and especially FISS) are aggressive and require a multimodality approach to see good results.
The goal is to provide safe and effective therapies while extending quality of life. The approach is based on each patient’s needs, and may include surgery along with diet improvement (feeding an organic balanced species appropriate diet), removing toxins in the environment (including EMF), repairing gut health and the microbiome, providing essential nutrient supplementation, removal of toxins, detoxification of the organs of elimination, immune and mitochondrial support and manipulation of the bodies innate pathways to support and facilitate the removal of abnormal tissue. This is not a fast and cheap approach and it requires behavioral changes on the part of the pet parent. In my practice I have experienced successful outcomes using this approach.
We can not continue to create the conditions for dis-ease to flourish and expect the therapies (allopathic, alternative or an integrative approach) to stop the dis-ease!
Prevention Is Key
The more we understand the risk factors that lead to dis-ease, the more we can intervene with better lifestyle choices.
Inflammation is at the root of all dis-ease. The more we reduce the factors leading to inflammation, the lower the risk of developing cancer and other degenerative dis-ease’s.
Implementation Strategies
1. Choose vaccination wisely based on risk factors. If vaccination is indicated or required (like Rabies) choose Non-adjuvanted vaccines.
2. Good injection technique to minimize trauma.
3. Give injections (especially in cats) in the rear legs/ lower thigh.
4. Give only one injection at a given site.
5. Give homeopathic remedies for the injections/vaccinations.
For more information on my 5 step approach to holistic health download my free ebook at www.holistichealingvet.com or visit www.transformingvetmedicine.com for an on line in depth course that covers diagnostic testing, diet/digestion/gut health, detoxification and mitochondrial support.
References:
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Dr. Marlene Siegel