title: Rescue therapy with doxorubicin-based chemotherapy for relapsing or refractory feline lymphoma: a retrospective study of 23 cases.
abstract: This study examined the efficacy of doxorubicin-based chemotherapy used for rescue therapy in refractory feline lymphoma. Records of 23 cats with lymphoma treated with chemotherapy who received doxorubicin for the first time in a rescue setting were reviewed. Seventeen (74%) of the 23 cats had only one treatment of doxorubicin. Five (22%) of the 23 cats had a positive response to doxorubicin and were given additional doses. The response to therapy in 4/5 of these responders could be assessed objectively, of which, two cats (9%) achieved partial remission (PR) and two cats (9%) achieved complete remission (CR). The two cats that achieved CR had differing response durations (6 weeks and greater than 47 months). Three of these five (60%) responders had also received concurrent other chemotherapy in addition to doxorubicin. Cell type and the use of concurrent chemotherapy were significant predictors of response. Cats with small-medium cell lymphomas (P=0.001) and cats that received concurrent chemotherapy with doxorubicin rescue (P=0.007) were more likely to respond favorably. This study suggests that doxorubicin-based chemotherapy is not an effective rescue protocol for feline lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3900 Delancey Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6010, USA. kobertha@nycvs.com
authors.forename: Karen T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Oberthaler
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mauldin
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: McManus
authors.forename: Frances S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Shofer
authors.forename: Karin U
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Sorenmo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D002415:Cats; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D004317:Doxorubicin