Python treated for cancer with human therapy in world first

A 4.5-meter reticulated python, affectionately named Jodi Foster, has received a groundbreaking medical intervention, becoming the first snake in the world to undergo electrochemotherapy for cancer. The treatment was a last resort after a malignant fibrosarcoma returned, significantly impacting the python's jaw and threatening its ability to eat.

Veterinarians at Chester Zoo, in collaboration with oncologists from the University of Liverpool, opted for the innovative electrochemotherapy, a technique typically used for human patients. Due to Jodi Foster's considerable size, the procedure required specialized arrangements, including joining two operating tables to accommodate the snake. The veterinary team sedated the python within its enclosure before transporting it for the complex procedure.

During the surgery, lead veterinarian Ian Ashpole removed the tumor and part of the damaged jawbone. He then administered the electrochemotherapy, which combines the chemotherapy drug bleomycin with precisely controlled electrical impulses. This method enhances the drug's penetration into cancer cells, allowing for lower, safer doses. The treatment has proven remarkably successful.

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When the tumor returned and began to destroy part of her jaw, as veterinarians, we knew that a second surgery alone would not be enough. We faced a real danger of losing her, as the tumor prevented her from eating.

"Seeing her alive and energetic again is incredibly satisfying," Dr. Ashpole stated. "A few months ago, we genuinely didn't know if she would survive. Today, she is eating normally, exploring her enclosure, and behaving exactly as we hoped."

Jodi Foster has made a full recovery, with her appetite and hunting abilities unaffected despite the loss of part of her jaw. Recent examinations confirm that the cancer has completely disappeared, marking a significant success for both veterinary medicine and the application of human medical treatments to animals.

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Seeing her alive and energetic again is incredibly satisfying. A few months ago, we genuinely didn't know if she would survive. Today, she is eating normally, exploring her enclosure, and behaving exactly as we hoped.