title: Treatment of feline lymphoma using a 12-week, maintenance-free combination chemotherapy protocol in 26 cats.
abstract: The aim of this prospective clinical trial was to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of a short-term, maintenance-free chemotherapy protocol in feline lymphoma. Twenty-six cats with confirmed diagnosis of high-/intermediate-grade lymphoma were treated with a 12-week protocol consisting of cyclic administration of l-asparaginase, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisolone. Complete (CR) and partial remission (PR) rates were 46 and 27%, respectively. Median duration of first CR was 394 days compared with a median PR duration of 41 days. No factor was identified to significantly influence the likelihood to reach CR. Overall survival amounted to 78 days (range: 9-2230 days). Median survival in CR cats was 454 days and in PR cats was 82 days. Toxicosis was mainly low grade with anorexia seen most frequently. In cats achieving CR, maintenance-free chemotherapy may be sufficient to attain long-term remission and survival. Factors aiding in prognosticating the likelihood for CR, strategies enhancing response and targeting chemotherapy-induced anorexia need to be identified in future.
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Limmer
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eberle
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nerschbach
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nolte
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Betz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001215:Asparaginase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002415:Cats; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012074:Remission Induction; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone; D001215:Asparaginase
keywords: cat; remission; short-term chemotherapy; survival; toxicosis