title: Therapy for osteosarcoma in dogs with intravenous injection of liposome-encapsulated muramyl tripeptide.
abstract: Canine osteosarcoma is a spontaneous malignancy in dogs, characterized by micrometastasis to pulmonary and extrapulmonary tissues at the time of diagnosis. Standard treatment involves amputation of the affected leg, but median survival time is 3-4 months with death due to metastasis. A randomized double-blind trial was conducted to evaluate liposome-encapsulated muramyl tripeptide-phosphatidylethanolamine (liposome/MTP-PE) as a treatment for metastasis in dogs undergoing amputation for osteosarcoma. Fourteen dogs were treated with liposome/MTP-PE, and 13 were treated with empty liposomes. Median survival time was 222 days for dogs treated with liposome/MTP-PE, compared to 77 days for dogs treated with empty liposomes (P less than .002). In the liposome/MTP-PE-treated group there were still four dogs alive and free of metastasis at greater than 1 year post surgery. Treatment was well tolerated; no significant toxic effects were noted except for mild elevations in body temperature (1-2 degrees C) for 2-6 hours post injection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706.
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: MacEwen
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Kurzman
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Manley
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Roush
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Howard
mesh_terms: D000119:Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D004285:Dogs; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004337:Drug Carriers; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008081:Liposomes; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy* / Q000662:veterinary; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D008081:Liposomes; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; C037144:mifamurtide; D000119:Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine