title: Four-fraction radiation therapy for macroscopic soft tissue sarcomas in 16 dogs.
abstract: A retrospective study of 16 dogs with macroscopic soft tissue sarcomas was performed to evaluate response to a four-fraction radiotherapy protocol (prescribed dose of 32 Gy). Radiation was well tolerated with minimal side effects. The overall response rate was 50%, with seven partial responses and one complete response. The median time to progression was 155 days, and the median survival time was 309 days. Coarsely fractionated radiation therapy may be a reasonable palliative option for dogs with unresectable soft tissue sarcomas, although the response is relatively short-lived.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2015 Linden Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Forrest
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vail
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thamm
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004285:Dogs; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006762:Hospitals, Animal; D008297:Male; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014922:Wisconsin