title: Toxic effects and antitumor response of gemcitabine in combination with piroxicam treatment in dogs with transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether combined treatment with gemcitabine and piroxicam in dogs with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder is tolerated and provides an advantage in terms of survival time over previously reported treatments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical trial. Animals-38 dogs with TCC of the urinary bladder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs were treated with gemcitabine (800 mg/m(2), IV over 30 to 60 minutes, q 7 d) and piroxicam (0.3 mg/kg [0.14 mg/lb], PO, q 24 h). Complete blood cell counts were monitored prior to each gemcitabine treatment. All toxic effects of gemcitabine in dogs were recorded. Primary tumors were ultrasonographically reevaluated after 4 gemcitabine treatments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dogs received a median of 8 gemcitabine treatments (range, 1 to 38 treatments/dog). In response to treatment, 10 of 38 (26.3%) dogs had grade 1 gastrointestinal tract signs, 11 (28.9%) had grade 2, and 5 (13.2%) had grade 3. Grade 1 neutropenia developed in 6 (15.8%) dogs and grade 2 and 3 neutropenia in 2 (5.3%) dogs each. Thrombocytopenia was rare. All dogs had improvement of clinical signs of disease. Two dogs had a complete tumor response, 8 had a partial response, 19 had stable disease, and 8 had progressive disease. Median survival time with treatment was 230 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Administration of gemcitabine in combination with piroxicam treatment failed to provide a longer overall survival time in dogs with TCC of the urinary bladder, compared with previously reported treatment strategies. However, this combination of chemotherapy did provide a new treatment alternative with fewer adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Oncology Service and Research Center, West Chester, PA 19382, USA. marconato@aoicenter.ch
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marconato
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zini
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lindner
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Suslak-Brown
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Ann K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Jeglum
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010894:Piroxicam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D010894:Piroxicam; D000093542:Gemcitabine