Pilot Study Evaluates Lipoma Reduction with Injectable Ice Slurry in Dogs
A pilot study led byTufts University investigated the safety and efficacy of BXT-786, an injectable ice slurry coolant, for reducing lipomas in dogs. The study aimed to assess adverse events and tumor size changes following treatment.
Ten dogs with two similarly sized lipomas each were enrolled. One lipoma per dog was injected with BXT-786, while the other received saline as a control. Tumor size was measured via calipers and ultrasound by blinded observers at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-injection. Lipomas were surgically removed at 12 weeks for histopathology.
Key Findings:
No Significant Tumor Shrinkage: Most lipomas remained stable in size, with only two showing partial responses (one in each group).
Histopathologic Changes: BXT-786-injected lipomas exhibited more fibrosis, inflammation, and necrosis (8/10) compared to saline controls (1/10), suggesting biological activity.
Safety Profile: Adverse events were mostly unrelated to treatment, though one dog developed cellulitis and necrosis at the injection site.
Quality of Life: No significant changes were reported by owners over the 8-week follow-up.
While BXT-786 induced cellular changes, it did not lead to significant lipoma reduction. The study suggests that future research should explore multiple injections or enhanced cooling formulations for better efficacy.
Read full study here: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1630506/full
