title: Doxorubicin and carboplatin trials in Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) with Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease.
abstract: The devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) is having a devastating impact on Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) (devils) in the wild. Only a single study has been published regarding treatment of DFTD, where vincristine was not found to be an effective chemotherapeutic agent. In the current study, devils were treated with escalating dosages of carboplatin (8-26 mg/kg) (n = 13) and doxorubicin (0.75-1.0 mg/kg) (n = 5). Dosages for carboplatin (20 mg/kg) and doxorubicin (1.0 mg/kg) were identified as maximally tolerated dosages. Limiting toxicities for carboplatin were anorexia and weight loss (gastrointestinal signs) and azotemia. Limiting toxicities for doxorubicin were neutropenia, anorexia and weight loss. None of the treated devils responded to either drug, suggesting that, based on the clonality of this tumour, it is unlikely that either drug individually or in combination would be effective treatments for DFTD. These results, however, provide valuable information for practitioners who may choose to treat other neoplastic diseases in the devil or other marsupials. In addition, these results show that even drugs that are metabolized and excreted in the same manner can be tolerated to different degrees by the same species.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2570, Australia. Electronic address: david.phalen@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Phalen
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Oncology Consultants, Wauchope, New South Wales 2446, Australia.
authors.forename: Angela E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Frimberger
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2570, Australia; Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and Water, Launceston, Tasmania 7249, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peck
authors.affiliation: Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and Water, Launceston, Tasmania 7249, Australia; School of Animal & Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pyecroft
authors.affiliation: Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and Water, Launceston, Tasmania 7249, Australia.
authors.forename: Colette
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Harmsen
authors.affiliation: Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and Water, Launceston, Tasmania 7249, Australia.
authors.forename: Suzanneth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lola
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Oncology Consultants, Wauchope, New South Wales 2446, Australia.
authors.forename: Antony S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008394:Marsupialia
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D004317:Doxorubicin; D016190:Carboplatin
keywords: Carboplatin; Chemotherapy; Doxorubicin; Marsupial; Tasmanian devil; Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease