Feline injection-site sarcoma: Past, present and future perspectives

Feline injection-site sarcomas (FISS) are known since the beginning of 90s. After the first correlation with rabies and FeLV vaccination, following studies demonstrated that an abnormal reaction of feline tissues to chronic inflammation was the major responsible for the disease. The low incidence of FISS in the population is explained by its multifactorial aetiology, since also individual genetic characteristics are implicated. This infiltrative tumour has a low metastatic potential and its major problem is local recurrence. Multimodality treatment (wide surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy) is recommended. The use of more sophisticated imaging techniques can improve diagnosis and help in surgical planning. After the initial enthusiasm in understanding the disease, not many advances have been made in the last few years. New promising expectations may come from a better knowledge of the molecular basis of the tumour and from the development of drugs acting on the immune system and at a molecular level.