Efficacy and toxicosis of VELCAP-C treatment of lymphoma in cats.
BACKGROUND
Lymphoma is the most common malignancy affecting cats. A protocol employing vincristine, l-asparaginase, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (VELCAP-S) is effective and well tolerated in dogs with lymphoma. A 24-week variation of this protocol (VELCAP-C) was developed for treatment of cats.


OBJECTIVE
That VELCAP-C will result in survival times for cats with lymphoma that are similar to those obtained when cats are treated with a protocol that includes fewer chemotherapy agents.


METHODS
Sixty-one cats with lymphoma.


METHODS
Retrospective study. Outcomes evaluated were response to VELCAP-C therapy, toxicosis, and survival time. The effect of signalment, staging, CBC, and serum chemistry profile and dosage on these outcomes was examined.


RESULTS
Six cats (10%) completed the protocol with a median survival of 1189 days. Forty-three percent (23 of 61) of the cats achieved complete response (CR) with a median survival time of 62 days. Cats that required a dose reduction of any drug during induction were more likely to achieve CR. Weight loss and hepatomegaly at diagnosis were negatively associated with response to treatment. Increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) serum activity at the time of initial treatment correlated with decreased survival times.


CONCLUSIONS
This multi agent protocol did not provide improved survival over historical data using protocols with fewer agents. Serum LDH activity levels might provide useful prognostic information for cats with lymphoma.
Hadden
A G
AG
Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Grafton, MA, USA.
Cotter
S M
SM
Rand
W
W
Moore
A S
AS
Davis
R M
RM
Morrissey
P
P
D000818:Animals; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001215:Asparaginase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002415:Cats; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D001215:Asparaginase; D011241:Prednisone