title: Adjuvant chemotherapy with mitoxantrone for cats with mammary carcinomas treated with radical mastectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the disease-free interval, survival time and adverse events of a combined treatment approach in cats with mammary malignant tumors using radical mastectomy and adjuvant mitoxantrone.
  
  
  METHODS
  All cats underwent surgery to remove the mammary chain containing the tumors. A 3 cm margin was obtained around removed tumors. For staging purposes, regional inguinal lymphadenectomy was performed in all cases. After histopathology, cats were staged according to the World Health Organization's (WHO) staging system. Chemotherapy with mitoxantrone was started 15-30 days after surgery (6 mg/m(2) IV every 21 days for four cycles) with the objective of delaying metastasis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three cats were intact, one cat was early spayed, four cats were late spayed and four cats were spayed at an unknown age. Based on the WHO's staging system, six cats were classified as stage I and six cats as stage III. The median disease-free interval and survival time were 360 and 480 days, respectively. Four (33%) cats received four doses of mitoxantrone, four (33%) cats received three doses and four (33%) cats received only one dose. The most frequent adverse effects of chemotherapy were azotemia, anorexia, leukopenia and vomiting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adjuvant mitoxantrone chemotherapy may be an option for feline mammary tumors. Further, sufficiently powered, randomized prospective trials are necessary to determine if mitoxantrone is superior, inferior or equivalent to doxorubicin in the adjuvant setting.
authors: Federal Fluminense University, Niterói, Brazil simonecsc@gmail.com.
authors: Simone C S
authors: SC
authors: Cunha
authors: Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Veterinary Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Katia B
authors: KB
authors: Corgozinho
authors: Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Veterinary Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Heloisa J M
authors: HJ
authors: Souza
authors: Federal Fluminense University, Niterói, Brazil.
authors: Kássia V G C
authors: KV
authors: Silva
authors: Federal Fluminense University, Niterói, Brazil.
authors: Ana Maria Reis
authors: AM
authors: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002415:Cats; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000662:veterinary; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D015409:Mastectomy, Radical / Q000662:veterinary; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000662:veterinary; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D008942:Mitoxantrone