title: Evaluation of radiotherapy alone or in combination with doxorubicin chemotherapy for the treatment of cats with incompletely excised soft tissue sarcomas: 71 cases (1989-1999).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the addition of doxorubicin chemotherapy affected the outcome of cats with incompletely excised, nonvisceral soft tissue sarcomas undergoing postoperative radiotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  71 cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records were reviewed for clinically relevant data on cats that underwent postoperative radiotherapy for treatment of incompletely excised soft tissue sarcomas with or without concurrent doxorubicin chemotherapy. Radiotherapy was performed on an alternate-day schedule, with a total dose of 58.8 to 63 Gy delivered in 21 fractions. Doxorubicin was administered every 21 days for 3 to 5 cycles. Follow-up information was obtained by means of physical examination or through telephone conversations with refer-ring veterinarians or owners.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median disease-free interval with concurrent radiotherapy and doxorubicin chemotherapy (15.4 months; range, 2.4 to 44.9 months) was significantly longer than median disease-free interval with radiotherapy alone (5.7 months; range, 1.0 to 50.8 months). However, survival time was not significantly different between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggested that doxorubicin chemotherapy may play a role in extending the disease-free interval in cats undergoing radiotherapy for treatment of incompletely excised soft tissue sarcomas.
authors.affiliation: Gulf Coast Veterinary Oncology, 1111 W Loop S, Houston, TX 77027, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Melissa M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Endicott
authors.forename: Glen K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: F Dee
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Harris-King
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D002415:Cats; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D004317:Doxorubicin