title: Retrospective evaluation of doxorubicin-piroxicam combination for the treatment of transitional cell carcinoma in dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether doxorubicin-piroxicam combination is safe and has activity against transitional cell carcinoma in dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data was collected retrospectively from 34 dogs from two institutions over a 6-year period. Signalment, clinical presentation, treatment specifics, adverse events, response, progression-free survival and overall survival time were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dogs received doxorubicin every 3 weeks and daily piroxicam; 17 dogs (50%) had surgery. Clinical presentations were those typically reported for transitional cell carcinoma. Mean number of doses administered was 3·5. Of the 23 dogs with measurable disease, 14 (60·5%) had stable disease, 7 (30·5%) had progressive disease and 2 (9%) a partial response. Adverse events were generally manageable, and gastrointestinal in origin; one dog died of treatment-related complications. Overall median progression-free survival and overall survival were 103 and 168 days, respectively. Cytoreductive surgery did not result in prolongation of progression-free survival, but significantly prolonged overall survival. All dogs but one died as a result of disease progression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Doxorubicin-piroxicam combination therapy is well-tolerated in dogs with transitional cell carcinoma although progression-free survival, overall survival and biological response rates appear modest. Combination with surgery appears to offer a survival advantage; however, this may reflect tumour location and volume. Prospective studies are necessary to compare activity of combination doxorubicin-piroxicam to currently applied therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Robat
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thamm
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vail
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010894:Piroxicam / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D010894:Piroxicam; D004317:Doxorubicin