title: Piroxicam and intracavitary platinum-based chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced mesothelioma in pets: preliminary observations.
abstract: Malignant Mesothelioma is an uncommon and very aggressive tumor that accounts for 1% of all the deaths secondary to malignancy in humans. Interestingly, this neoplasm has been occasionally described in companion animals as well. Aim of this study was the preclinical evaluation of the combination of piroxicam with platinum-based intracavitary chemotherapy in pets. Three companion animals have been treated in a three years period with this combination. Diagnosis was obtained by ultrasonographic exam of the body cavities that evidenced thickening of the mesothelium. A surgical biopsy further substantiated the diagnosis. After drainage of the malignant effusion from the affected cavity, the patients received four cycles of intracavitary CDDP at the dose of 50 mg/m2 every three weeks if dogs or four cycles of intracavitary carboplatin at the dose of 180 mg/m2 (every 3 weeks) if cats, coupled with daily administration of piroxicam at the dose of 0.3 mg/kg. The therapy was able to arrest the effusion in all patients for variable remission times: one dog is still in remission after 3 years, one dog died of progressive disease after 8 months and one cat died due to progressive neoplastic growth after six months, when the patient developed a mesothelial cuirass. The combination showed remarkable efficacy at controlling the malignant effusion secondary to MM in our patients and warrants further investigations.
authors.affiliation: SAFU Department, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy. info@enricospugnini.net
authors.forename: Enrico P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Spugnini
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crispi
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scarabello
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: Gennaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Citro
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baldi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D010894:Piroxicam / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D010894:Piroxicam; D016190:Carboplatin