Treatment of dogs with lymphoma using a 12-week, maintenance-free combination chemotherapy protocol.
BACKGROUND
Treatment of lymphoma in dogs by long-term chemotherapy has favorable results. However, the efficacy of short-term, maintenance-free treatment protocols on remission and survival times in dogs has not been determined.


OBJECTIVE
That treatment using a 12-week chemotherapy protocol would be associated with satisfactory treatment outcome in dogs with lymphoma.


METHODS
77 dogs with histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of lymphoma.


METHODS
Prospective clinical trial in which dogs were treated with a 12-week chemotherapy protocol consisting of L-asparaginase, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisolone.


RESULTS
Complete remission rate was 76.3%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that clinical substage (P = .006) and immunophenotype (P = .003) had a significant influence on the likelihood of a dog achieving complete remission. Median duration of first complete remission was 243 days (range 19-1,191 days). The 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year remission rates were 68%, 28%, and 16%, respectively. In the multivariate analysis of patient variables, immunophenotype (P = .022) revealed a significant influence on first remission duration. Toxicosis was mild with the exception of 1 treatment-associated death.


CONCLUSIONS
In this group of dogs the 12-week maintenance-free chemotherapy protocol was well tolerated and had satisfactory results.
Simon
D
D
Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany. Daniela.Simon@tiho-hannover.de
Nolte
I
I
Eberle
N
N
Abbrederis
N
N
Killich
M
M
Hirschberger
J
J
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001215:Asparaginase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone; D001215:Asparaginase