Tolerability of gemcitabine and carboplatin doublet therapy in cats with carcinomas.
BACKGROUND
This study was performed to determine the toxicity of gemcitabine-carboplatin doublet therapy in cats with carcinomas.


OBJECTIVE
Gemcitabine and carboplatin are safe in tumor-bearing cats.


METHODS
Twenty cats with spontaneously occurring carcinomas.


METHODS
A cohort of 6 cats received gemcitabine (2 mg/kg IV) on days 1, 8, and 15 and carboplatin (10 mg/kg IV) immediately after gemcitabine on day 1 of a 21-day cycle. A 2nd cohort of 14 cats received carboplatin 4 hours after gemcitabine on day 1 and gemcitabine on day 8 but not day 15. The cycles were repeated every 21 days.


RESULTS
Cats in the 1st cohort received a median of 3.75 cycles per animal (range, 1-6). Two cats (33.3%) developed grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, 1 (16.7%) grade 4 thrombocytopenia, and 1 (16.7%) grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicity. Gemcitabine dose reductions and treatment delays occurred in 1 and 4 cats, respectively. Cats in the 2nd cohort received a median of 2 cycles per animal (range, 0.5-10). Two cats (14.3%) had grade 3 or 4 neutropenia and 1 (7.1%) had grade 3 and 4 gastrointestinal toxicity. One cat required gemcitabine dose reduction and 6 had treatment delays. In the 2nd cohort, of 11 cats with measurable tumors, there was 1 complete response (pancreatic carcinoma) and 1 partial response (squamous cell carcinoma, receiving concurrent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).


CONCLUSIONS
Gemcitabine-carboplatin combination appears moderately well tolerated in tumor-bearing cats. Minimal patient benefit suggests that alternative schedules or combinations of gemcitabine with other agents should be explored.
Martinez-Ruzafa
I
I
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Center for Comparative Oncology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1314, USA.
Dominguez
P A
PA
Dervisis
N G
NG
Sarbu
L
L
Newman
R G
RG
Cadile
C D
CD
Kitchell
B E
BE
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002415:Cats; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D003841:Deoxycytidine; D016190:Carboplatin; D000093542:Gemcitabine