title: Feline mediastinal lymphoma: a retrospective study of signalment, retroviral status, response to chemotherapy and prognostic indicators.
abstract: Historically, feline mediastinal lymphoma has been associated with young age, positive feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) status, Siamese breed and short survival times. Recent studies following widespread FeLV vaccination in the UK are lacking. The aim of this retrospective multi-institutional study was to re-evaluate the signalment, retroviral status, response to chemotherapy, survival and prognostic indicators in feline mediastinal lymphoma cases in the post-vaccination era. Records of cats with clinical signs associated with a mediastinal mass and cytologically/histologically confirmed lymphoma were reviewed from five UK referral centres (1998-2010). Treatment response, survival and prognostic indicators were assessed in treated cats with follow-up data. Fifty-five cases were reviewed. The median age was 3 years (range, 0.5-12 years); 12 cats (21.8%) were Siamese; and the male to female ratio was 3.2:1.0. Five cats were FeLV-positive and two were feline immunodeficiency-positive. Chemotherapy response and survival was evaluated in 38 cats. Overall response was 94.7%; complete (CR) and partial response (PR) rates did not differ significantly between protocols: COP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone) (n = 26, CR 61.5%, PR 34.0%); Madison-Wisconsin (MW) (n = 12, CR 66.7%, PR 25.0%). Overall median survival was 373 days (range, 20-2015 days) (COP 484 days [range, 20-980 days]; MW 211 days [range, 24-2015 days] [P = 0.892]). Cats achieving CR survived longer (980 days vs 42 days for PR; P = 0.032). Age, breed, sex, location (mediastinal vs mediastinal plus other sites), retroviral status and glucocorticoid pretreatment did not affect response or survival. Feline mediastinal lymphoma cases frequently responded to chemotherapy with durable survival times, particularly in cats achieving CR. The prevalence of FeLV-antigenaemic cats was low; males and young Siamese cats appeared to be over-represented.
authors.affiliation: North Downs Specialist Referrals, Bletchingley, UK fabriziofrancesca@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fabrizio
authors.affiliation: The Veterinary Centre, Henley-on-Thames, UK.
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Calam
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Jane M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dobson
authors.affiliation: Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hatfield, UK.
authors.forename: Stephanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Middleton
authors.affiliation: AHT, Lanwades Park, Kentford, UK.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Samantha S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.affiliation: Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hatfield, UK.
authors.forename: Anneliese J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Stell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D005256:Leukemia Virus, Feline / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D011241:Prednisone