Lili Duda

Canine hemangiosarcoma treated with standard chemotherapy and minocycline.

Standard treatments for canine hemangiosarcoma include surgery and chemotherapy with doxorubicin, but in spite of treatment most dogs with this disease die within 6 months of diagnosis. Tumor growth and metastasis are angiogenesis dependent. Antiangiogenic drugs such as minocycline may provide therapeutic benefits in cancer patients. The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of chemotherapy with doxorubicin and minocycline, an antiangiogenic agent, in dogs with hemangiosarcoma. Eighteen dogs with histologically confirmed hemangiosarcoma of any stage were treated with doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and minocycline. Complete staging was performed before and during the treatment period to assess remission status and response to therapy. No statistically significant difference was found in survival between the dogs treated with chemotherapy and minocycline, and historical controls consisting of dogs that received chemotherapy alone. Postmortem examination revealed widespread metastasis, suggesting that minocycline is ineffective as a single antiangiogenic agent in canine hemangiosarcoma.

Radiation therapy in the treatment of canine and feline thymomas: a retrospective study (1985-1999).

A retrospective study was performed of 17 dogs and seven cats with various stages of thymoma treated with radiation alone or as an adjunctive therapy. Analysis revealed an overall response rate of 75% (15/20 evaluable cases). Partial (i.e., >50% reduction in tumor size) and complete (i.e., no detectable tumor) responses were included. Complete responses were rare (4/20). Three of five animals with stable disease (i.e., <50% change in tumor size) had improvements in clinical signs, despite lack of measurable response. A median survival time of 248 days (range, 93 to 1,657+ days) was achieved in dogs, and a median survival time of 720 days (range, 485 to 1,825+ days) was achieved in cats. Radiation therapy appears to be useful in the management of invasive thymomas in dogs and cats.

Complications associated with use of subcutaneous vascular access ports in cats and dogs undergoing fractionated radiotherapy: 172 cases (1996-2007)

OBJECTIVE To describe complications associated with use of a subcutaneous vascular access port (SVAP) in cats and dogs treated with fractionated radiotherapy and to determine predisposing factors for developing these complications. DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS 46 cats and 126 dogs. PROCEDURES The medical records of cats and dogs undergoing radiation therapy that received placement of an SVAP between March 1996 and August 2007 were reviewed. Data were recorded and analyzed to determine factors for development of complications associated with the use of an SVAP during treatment with fractionated radiotherapy. RESULTS 18 and 36 major and minor complications were identified, respectively. Sex and the lack of administration of propofol during anesthesia induction were significantly associated with development of major complications. Female cats and dogs were 5.00 times as likely as male cats and dogs to develop major complications associated with SVAP usage. Animals in which propofol was not administered were 19.15 times as likely as animals administered propofol to develop major complications. Placement of SVAP catheters in a femoral vein was 17.20 times as likely as placement in the jugular vein to result in minor complications. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Factors associated with the development of complications included sex, propofol administration, and vein in which an SVAP catheter was inserted. The use of an SVAP may be a useful alternative to repeated catheterizations in cats and dogs.

Intraocular osteosarcoma in an Umbrella Cockatoo (Cacatua alba).

An adult, presumed intact female Umbrella Cockatoo (Cacatua alba), presented with acute hemorrhage from an intraocular mass that perforated through the right cornea. Computed tomography scanning revealed a large soft tissue mass in the right orbit, invading and displacing the globe laterally, and destroying the scleral ossicles. There was no evidence of bony changes of the orbit or extension of the mass into the optic nerve or brain. Exenteration and mass removal were performed, and osteosarcoma was diagnosed via histopathology. Radiotherapy was delivered with an orthovoltage unit to a total dose of 68 Gray delivered in 17 fractions over 6 weeks. The bird recovered well from treatment, but died 2 months after the last radiation session with neurological signs. Necropsy was not performed. To our knowledge, this is the first case of an intraocular osteosarcoma reported in a bird, and the first case of attempted treatment of osteosarcoma in a bird by a combination of surgery and radiation therapy.

Pulmonary fibrosis after high cumulative dose nitrosourea chemotherapy in a cat.

Small to intermediate cell alimentary lymphoma was diagnosed in a cat after abdominal exploratory surgery with no prior history of pulmonary disease. Initial response to several chemotherapy regimens was poor, but a long-term remission was achieved with CCNU (lomustine) and corticosteroid therapy. After receiving a total cumulative CCNU dose of 552 mg m(-2) over 12 months, an acute episode of respiratory distress occurred and the cat died. Necropsy identified severe diffuse pulmonary fibrosis and no signs of lymphoma. This is the first report of pulmonary fibrosis following high cumulative dose nitrosourea chemotherapy in a cat.

Conduct, Oversight, and Ethical Considerations of Clinical Trials in Companion Animals with Cancer: Report of a Workshop on Best Practice Recommendations

Development of effective and safe treatments for companion animals with cancer requires the collaboration of numerous animal health professionals and the full engagement of animal owners. Establishing ‘Best Practice Recommendations’ for clinical trials in veterinary oncology represents an important step toward meeting the goal of rigorous clinical trial design and conduct that is required to establish valid evidence. Likewise, optimizing patient welfare and owner education and advocacy is crucial to meet the unique ethical obligations to both owners and animals enrolled in these clinical trials and to ensure trust in the team conducting the research. To date, ‘Best Practice Recommendations’ for clinical trial conduct have not been reported for veterinary oncology. This document summarizes the consensus of a workshop held in November, 2014 to identify relevant ethical principles and to ensure responsible conduct of clinical research in companion animals with cancer. It is intended as a working document that will be updated as advances in science and ethical considerations require. To the extent possible, existing guidelines for the conduct and oversight of clinical trials in humans have been adapted for veterinary trials to avoid duplicative effort and to facilitate integration of clinical trials such that translational research with benefits for both companion animals and humans are encouraged.

The usefulness of immunohistochemistry to differentiate between nasal carcinoma and lymphoma in cats: 140 cases (1986–2000)

A retrospective evaluation of 232 feline nasal biopsies initially diagnosed as either carcinoma or lymphoma was performed by two pathologists. One or both pathologists disagreed with the original diagnosis in 15 cases (7%), 14 of which had original diagnoses of carcinoma. Out of the 232 cases, 140, including the disputed ones, were subjected to immunohistochemical staining with epithelial and lymphoid markers. Immunohistochemical staining of the 15 disputed cases showed that the original diagnoses were incorrect in 67% (10/15), unverified in 13% (2/15) and correct in 20% (3/15). Among the consensual diagnoses, immunohistochemistry revealed that 3% (4/125) of diagnoses were unverified because they did not stain for any of the markers evaluated. This report demonstrates the importance of immunohistochemistry in establishing a correct histologic diagnosis for nasal neoplasms in cats.

Palliative radiation therapy for solid tumors in dogs: 103 cases (2007–2011)

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical response, adverse effects, and outcomes associated with palliative radiation therapy (PRT) in dogs with various solid tumor types at various body locations. DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS 103 dogs with solid tumors. PROCEDURES Medical records for dogs with solid tumors treated with PRT between July 2007 and January 2011 at a veterinary teaching hospital were reviewed. Data collected included signalment, tumor type and location, initial staging results, PRT protocol, other tumor-specific treatments, patient and tumor response, outcome, and acute and chronic adverse effects. Median progression-free survival time, median survival time (MST), and other descriptive statistics were calculated. RESULTS Types of tumors treated included carcinoma, sarcoma, melanoma, primary bone tumor, mast cell tumor, and ameloblastoma. For all dogs, the overall tumor and clinical response rates to PRT were 75% and 77%, respectively, and the MST was 134 days, but those responses varied substantially among tumor types. Dogs that developed a positive clinical response or maintained stable disease after PRT had a significantly longer MST than did dogs with progressive disease. Tumor location was not significantly associated with median progression-free survival time or MST. Most dogs tolerated the PRT well. Acute and chronic adverse effects were observed in 57 and 8 dogs, respectively, but were generally self-limiting. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that dogs with various types of solid tumors that received PRT had objective beneficial responses and an improvement in quality of life that was positively associated with survival time.

CASE REPORT: Intraocular osteosarcoma in an Umbrella Cockatoo (Cacatua alba)

An adult, presumed intact female Umbrella Cockatoo (Cacatua alba), presented with acute hemorrhage from an intraocular mass that perforated through the right cornea. Computed tomography scanning revealed a large soft tissue mass in the right orbit, invading and displacing the globe laterally, and destroying the scleral ossicles. There was no evidence of bony changes of the orbit or extension of the mass into the optic nerve or brain. Exenteration and mass removal were performed, and osteosarcoma was diagnosed via histopathology. Radiotherapy was delivered with an orthovoltage unit to a total dose of 68 Gray delivered in 17 fractions over 6 weeks. The bird recovered well from treatment, but died 2 months after the last radiation session with neurological signs. Necropsy was not performed. To our knowledge, this is the first case of an intraocular osteosarcoma reported in a bird, and the first case of attempted treatment of osteosarcoma in a bird by a combination of surgery and radiation therapy.

CASE REPORT: Intraocular osteosarcoma in an Umbrella Cockatoo (Cacatua alba): intraocular osteosarcoma in an umbrella cockatoo

An adult, presumed intact female Umbrella Cockatoo (Cacatua alba), presented with acute hemorrhage from an intraocular mass that perforated through the right cornea. Computed tomography scanning revealed a large soft tissue mass in the right orbit, invading and displacing the globe laterally, and destroying the scleral ossicles. There was no evidence of bony changes of the orbit or extension of the mass into the optic nerve or brain. Exenteration and mass removal were performed, and osteosarcoma was diagnosed via histopathology. Radiotherapy was delivered with an orthovoltage unit to a total dose of 68 Gray delivered in 17 fractions over 6 weeks. The bird recovered well from treatment, but died 2 months after the last radiation session with neurological signs. Necropsy was not performed. To our knowledge, this is the first case of an intraocular osteosarcoma reported in a bird, and the first case of attempted treatment of osteosarcoma in a bird by a combination of surgery and radiation therapy.