title: 0-7-21 radiation therapy for the treatment of canine oral melanoma.
abstract: Eighteen dogs with malignant melanoma of the oral cavity were treated with high-dose per fraction (0-7-21) radiation therapy. Eight hundred cGy was administered on days 0, 7, and 21 for a total dose of 2,400 cGy in 3 weeks. Of 17 dogs evaluated, 9 (53%) had a complete remission and 5 (30%) achieved a partial remission with an overall response rate of 83%. Local failure occurred in 2 of the 9 dogs where a complete response was initially observed. One dog died of intercurrent disease, and one died of metastatic disease without evidence of local recurrence. Five dogs are alive and free of disease 9 to nineteen months from the initiation of therapy. The 0-7-21 protocol was well-tolerated, and acute radiation reactions were low-grade and limited to the skin. The results of this study demonstrate that oral melanomas in dogs are responsive to radiation. 0-7-21 radiation therapy offers a viable alternative to radical excision, especially when tumor volume or location would require cosmetically or functionally debilitating surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, University of Guleph, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Bateman
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Catton
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Pennock
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kruth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D011379:Prognosis; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage / Q000662:veterinary; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary; D016019:Survival Analysis