Masitinib is a registered oral therapy for the treatment of high grade, inoperable mast cell tumours in dogs. In Europe, this treatment is available only through veterinary professionals.

Some of your pet owners' questions answered... 

These answers may help you to address two of the most frequently asked questions your pet owners may ask you when their dog is diagnosed with an inoperable or high grade tumour. Please contact us if you would like a copy of our Pet Owner Information Leaflet.

My dog has a mast cell tumour – what are the best options for treatment?

There are several options available for the treatment of mast cell tumours in dogs. The majority of these tumours can be best treated by surgery. However, when the tumour cannot be completely and safely removed by surgery alone, several non-surgical options are available which may shrink the tumour and /or stop it from recurring or from spreading to other parts of the body. These non-surgical options include established modalities such as radiotherapy and cytotoxic chemotherapies, whilst more recently new types of medical treatments known as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have also become available for veterinary use. Masitinib is one of these TKI medical treatments. This type of cancer therapy is also known as a targeted cancer therapy, because TKIs are designed to act against the cause of the tumour, without attacking or damaging healthy tissues. They can block (“ inhibit”) selected biological pathways known to be important in the way that a tumour grows and how a tumour invades surrounding tissues. TKI cancer treatments have been available in human medicine since 2001 and they are now used to treat many different types of cancer in people.

How do I know if my dog requires a TKI treatment?

This medicine can only be used under the supervision of a qualified veterinarian. If your dog has already been diagnosed with a mast cell tumour, your vet will need to assess the specific characteristics of the tumour(s) in order to recommend the best possible treatment options. Your vet will let you know whether or not a TKI is the most appropriate treatment for your dog. For more information about Mast Cell Tumours (MCTs) and the available treatment options, you can find independent information and guidance via this specialist Veterinary Oncology Hospital website (see link below) or the Animal Cancer Trust website.