Therapy for osteosarcoma in dogs with intravenous injection of liposome-encapsulated muramyl tripeptide.
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.
MacEwen
E G
EG
Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706.
Kurzman
I D
ID
Rosenthal
R C
RC
Smith
B W
BW
Manley
P A
PA
Roush
J K
JK
Howard
P E
PE
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*
D004337:Drug Carriers; D008081:Liposomes; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; C037144:mifamurtide; D000119:Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine