Randomized controlled trial of doxorubicin versus dactinomycin in a multiagent protocol for treatment of dogs with malignant lymphoma.
OBJECTIVE
To compare efficacy and toxicity of 2 multiagent chemotherapeutic protocols similar in all respects except that 1 incorporated dactinomycin and the other incorporated doxorubicin for treatment of dogs with malignant lymphoma.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
45 dogs with malignant lymphoma.


METHODS
Dogs were randomly assigned to a doxorubicin or dactinomycin treatment group. Time to first remission, duration of first remission, survival time, and prevalence of toxicoses, particularly number of episodes of dose-limiting neutropenia and gastrointestinal toxicoses, were compared between groups.


RESULTS
37 dogs received at least 1 dose of doxorubicin (21 dogs) or dactinomycin (16). Median time to first remission was not significantly different between groups, but median duration of first remission and median survival time were significantly longer for dogs in the doxorubicin treatment group than for dogs in the dactinomycin treatment group. Number of dogs that died, number of episodes of dose-limiting neutropenia, and number of episodes of gastrointestinal toxicoses were not significantly different between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
A multiagent chemotherapeutic protocol incorporating doxorubicin was significantly more effective in dogs with malignant lymphoma than a similar protocol incorporating dactinomycin. Despite the lower cost and lack of cardiotoxicity, dactinomycin is not an equivalent substitute for doxorubicin in the initial treatment of dogs with malignant lymphoma.
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St Paul 55108, USA.
C
C
Khanna
E M
EM
Lund
K A
KA
Redic
D W
DW
Hayden
F W
FW
Bell
E L
EL
Goulland
J S
JS
Klausner
D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D004285:Dogs; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D012074:Remission Induction; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003609:Dactinomycin; D004317:Doxorubicin