The effect of interleukin-2 on canine peripheral nerve sheath tumours after marginal surgical excision: a double-blind randomized study.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect on outcomes of intraoperative recombinant human interleukin-2 injection after surgical resection of peripheral nerve sheath tumours. In this double-blind trial, 40 patients due to undergo surgical excision (<5 mm margins) of presumed peripheral nerve sheath tumours were randomized to receive intraoperative injection of interleukin-2 or placebo into the wound bed.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in any variable investigated or in median survival between the two groups. The median recurrence free interval was 874 days (range 48-2141 days), The recurrence-free interval and overall survival time were significantly longer in dogs that undergone the primary surgery by a specialist-certified surgeon compared to a referring veterinarian regardless of whether additional adjunct therapy was given.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, marginal excision of peripheral nerve sheath tumours in dogs resulted in a long survival time, but adjuvant treatment with recombinant human interleukin-2 (rhIL-2) did not provide a survival advantage.
Annika N
AN
Haagsman
Astrid C S
AC
Witkamp
Bart E
BE
Sjollema
Marja J L
MJ
Kik
Jolle
J
Kirpensteijn
D000818:Animals; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000662:veterinary; D018317:Nerve Sheath Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*
D007376:Interleukin-2