title: Lomustine and prednisone as a first-line treatment for dogs with multicentric lymphoma: 17 cases (2004-2005).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess response rate, median duration of response, adverse effects, and prognostic factors associated with concurrent administration of lomustine and prednisone as a first-line treatment for dogs with multicentric lymphoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  17 dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records were reviewed. Information obtained included signalment, physical examination findings, results of diagnostic testing, stage and substage, initial lomustine and prednisone dosages, and total number of lomustine doses administered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lomustine was administered at a median starting dosage of 67 mg/m(2), PO, every 21 days until 5 doses were given or disease progression was observed. Prednisone was administered at a median starting dosage of 1.8 mg/kg/d (0.82 mg/lb/d), PO, with dosage tapered during the first month of treatment. Six dogs had a complete response, and 3 had a partial response. Mean and median durations of response were 48.8 and 39.5 days, respectively. Median survival time was 111.2 days. In multivariate analyses, female sex and higher total lomustine dose were significantly associated with a longer disease-free inter-val. Neutropenia was the dose-limiting factor, with 4 dogs developing clinically important neutropenia 1 week after administration of a dose of lomustine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that concurrent treatment with lomustine and prednisone was well tolerated in dogs with multicentric lymphoma, but findings did not support the use of this combination for first-line treatment of affected dogs.
authors.affiliation: Animal Cancer and Imaging Center, 8560 Canton Center Rd, Canton, MI 48187, USA.
authors.forename: Michele L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Sauerbrey
authors.forename: Marie N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Mullins
authors.forename: Erin O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Bannink
authors.forename: T E Renate
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Van Dorp
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kaneene
authors.forename: Joyce E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Obradovich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D008130:Lomustine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000662:veterinary; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D008130:Lomustine; D011241:Prednisone