Oral and topical application of 2% cannabidiol in a cat with squamous cell carcinoma. Case Report

Authors

  • Sylvia Arrau Barra Médico Veterinaria – Dra. en Ciencias Farmacéuticas. Universidad Mayor, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56116/cms.v65.n3.2025.2468

Keywords:

squamous cell carcinoma, cat, cannabidiol, topical and oral treatment

Abstract

We present the case of a cat with depigmented lesions on the face and auricles, diagnosed by biopsy with superficial squamous cell carcinoma. This neoplasia, common in felines, is associated with prolonged UV exposure and genetic factors. Surgical treatment is usually indicated in advanced cases, but carries risks in geriatric patients. In this case, multimodal therapy with meloxicam, gabapentin, and 2% cannabidiol (CBD) in oral and topical drops was chosen. In four months, complete resolution of the lesions was achieved without recurrence. The use of CBD is based on its antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects, with synergistic action with NSAIDs.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

• Cunha Z.R., Salamanca G., Mille F., Delprete C., Franciosi C., Piva G., Gramenzi A., Chiocchetti R.(2013). Endocannabinoid System Receptors at the Hip and Stifle Joints of Middle-Aged Dogs: A Novel Target for the Therapeutic Use of Cannabis sativa Extract in Canine Arthropathies. Animals. 13, 2833. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13182833.

• Culp W. (2020).Cancer of the nasal planum. En:Vail D.; Thamm D;Liptak J. (eds): Withrow and MacEwen´s .En: Small animal clinical oncology. 6th. ed. Elsevier. Mangieri J. y Ferreira F. (2020).Carcinoma espinocelular facial del felino. Selecciones veterinaria. 44(28).

• De la Harpe A., Beukes N. y Frost C.L. (2022).CBD activation of TRPV1 induces oxidative signaling and subsequent ER stress in breast cancer cell lines. Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry. DOI: 10.1002/bab.2119. Published online in Wiley Online Library. 69(420-430).

• Flores A.M, Prieto D.M. (2013).Carcinoma espinocelular moderadamente diferenciado, ulcerado e invasor. Ciencias Agropecuarias. 5 (20/3), 6-20.

• Flores S., Cattaneo G. (2002).Tumores cutáneos: Carcinoma de células escamosas del gato, epidemiologia, criterio diagnóstico y terapéutico. Monografías Med. Vet.21 (1-2) 49-57.

• Hannon M.B., Deabold K.A., Talsma B.N., et al. (2020).Serum cannabidiol, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and their native acid derivatives after transdermal application of a low-THC Cannabis sativa extract in beagles. J vet Pharmacol Therap.; 00:1–008.

• Hauck, M., Oblak, M. (2020). Tumors of the skin and subcutaneous tissues. En: Vail D.; Thamm D.;Liptak J. (Eds): Withrow and MacEwen´s .Small animal clinical oncology. 6th ed. Elsevier.

• King J.N., Hotz R., Reangan E.L., Roth D.L., Seewald W. & Lees P. (2016). Safety of oral robenacoxib in the cat. J. vet. Pharmacol. Novartis Animal Health Inc.Clinical Development, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland. Therap. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2885.2011.01320.x

• Kongara K. y Chambers J. P. (2018). robenacoxib in the treatment of pain in cats and dogs: safety, eficacy, and place in therapy. veterinary medicine: research and reports 2018:9 53–61. dove press journal.

• Kulpa J.E., Paulionis, l. j., Graham M. L. and Vaughn, D. M. (2021). Safety and tolerability of escalating cannabinoid doses in healthy cats. Sagepub.com/journals-permissions DOI: 10.1177/1098612X211004215 journals.sagepub.com/home/jfm.

• Lamminen T.; Korpivaara, M.; Aspegrén, J.; Palestrini, C.; Overall, K.L. (2023). Pregabalin Alleviates Anxiety and Fear in Cats during Transportation and Veterinary Visits—A Clinical Field Study. Animals, 13, 371. https:// doi.org/10.3390/ani13030371.

• Landa L, Sulcova A, Gbelec P. The use of cannabinoids in animals and therapeutic implications for veterinary medicine: a review. Vet Med. (2016) 61:111–22. doi: 10.17221/8762-VETMED17.

• Lascelles, B. D., Blikslager, A. T., Fox, S. M., et al. (2005) Gastrointestinal tract perforation in dogs treated with a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor: 29 cases (2002- 2003). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 227, 1112-11177. 14. Mangieri J., Ferreira F. (2020).Carcinoma de células escamosas en el plano nasal felino. Selecciones veterinarias. 28 (48).

• Miranda-Cortés A., Mota-Rojas D., Crosignani-Outeda N., Casas-Alvarado A., Martínez-Burnes J., Olmos-Hernández A., Mora-Medina P., Verduzco-Mendoza A. and Hernández-Ávalos I (2023). The role of cannabinoids in pain modulation in companion animals. Front. Vet. Sci. 9:1050884. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1050884.

• Miragliotta V., Ricci P.L., Albanese F., Pirone A., Tognotti D. and Abramo F. (2018). Cannabinoid receptor types 1 and 2 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-a: distribution in the skin of clinically healthy cats and cats with hypersensitivity dermatitis. Vet Dermatol; 29: 316–e111. DOI: 10.1111/vde.12658.

• Matamalas Rosselo A.M. (2020).El carcinoma de células escamosas felino: la electroquimioterapia y otros tratamientos novedosos. Trabajo de Fin de Grado en Veterinaria. Departamento de Patología Animal, Área de Medicina y Cirugía Animal. Universidad de Zaragoza. España.

• Marcus N., Menrath G. H. and Marshall M.R. (2008). Long-term safety, efficacy and palatability of oral meloxicam at 0.01e0.03 mg/kg for treatment of osteoarthritic pain in cats. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.doi:10.1016/j.jfms.2007.10.007.

• Monteiro B. (2019) Assessment of chronic pain in companion animals: development and concurrent validation of neurophysiological methods. In: Faculté de médecine vétérinaire. Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada. p 270.

• Murphy S. (2013).Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in the cat current understanding and treatment approaches. Review. Feline cutaneous SCC. JFMS. Clinical practice. Journal of feline medicine and surgery. (15)401–407.

• Seltzer E.S.,Andrea K. Watters A. K. ,Danny MacKenzie D. ,Granat M.L. and Zhang D. (2020). Cannabidiol (CBD) as a Promising Anti-Cancer Drug. Cancers, 12, 3203; doi: 10.3390/cancers12113203.

• Valderrama L. F. (2023). Carcinoma de Células Escamosas en un Felino. Reporte de Caso. Trabajo de grado para optar por título de Médica Veterinaria. Corporación Unilasallista Universitaria. Facultad Ciencias y Agropecuarias y Medicina Veterinaria. Caldas-Antioquia.

Published

2025-10-08

How to Cite

Arrau Barra, S. . (2025). Oral and topical application of 2% cannabidiol in a cat with squamous cell carcinoma. Case Report. Cuadernos Médico Sociales, 65(3), 97–102. https://doi.org/10.56116/cms.v65.n3.2025.2468

Issue

Section

Cuadernos botánico sociales

Categories