Efficacy of a continuous, multiagent chemotherapeutic protocol versus a short-term single-agent protocol in dogs with lymphoma

Daniela Simon Departments of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30173 Hannover, Germany.

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Sol Naranjo Moreno Departments of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30173 Hannover, Germany.

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Johannes Hirschberger Small Animal Medical Clinic, Veterinary Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany.

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Andreas Moritz Small Animal Medical Clinic, Veterinary Faculty, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany.

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Barbara Kohn Small Animal Clinic, Veterinary Faculty, Free University Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany.

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Stephan Neumann Clinic for Small Animals, Institute for Veterinary Medicine, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.

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Konrad Jurina Small Animal Clinic, Veterinary Faculty, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.

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Stefan Scharvogel Small Animal Clinic, Veterinary Faculty, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.

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Claudia Schwedes Small Animal Clinic Augsburg, Klinkerberg 1-3, 86152 Augsburg, Germany.

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Manfred Reinacher Department for Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany.

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Martin Beyerbach Departments of Biometry, Epidemiology, and Information Processing, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30173 Hannover, Germany.

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Ingo Nolte Departments of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30173 Hannover, Germany.

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Abstract

Objective—To compare response rates and remission and survival times in dogs with lymphoma treated with a continuous, multiagent, doxorubicin-based chemotherapeutic protocol or with a short-term single-agent protocol incorporating doxorubicin.

Design—Nonrandomized controlled clinical trial.

Animals—114 dogs with lymphoma.

Procedures—Dogs were treated with a chemotherapeutic protocol consisting of L-asparaginase, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, methotrexate, and prednisolone (n = 87) or doxorubicin alone (27).

Results—63 of 86 (73%) dogs treated with the multiagent protocol (data on response was unavailable for 1 dog) and 14 of 27 (52%) dogs treated with the single-agent protocol had a complete remission. Dogs with lymphoma classified as substage ≤ and dogs with a high BUN concentration at the time of initial diagnosis were significantly less likely to have a complete remission. No significant difference in remission or survival time could be demonstrated between treatment groups. Incidence of hematologic and gastrointestinal tract toxicoses did not differ between treatment groups, with the exception that vomiting was more common among dogs treated with the multiagent protocol.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—In this population of dogs, we were not able to identify any significant difference in remission or survival times between dogs with lymphoma treated with a continuous, multiagent chemotherapeutic protocol and dogs treated with a short-term single-agent protocol involving doxorubicin.

Abstract

Objective—To compare response rates and remission and survival times in dogs with lymphoma treated with a continuous, multiagent, doxorubicin-based chemotherapeutic protocol or with a short-term single-agent protocol incorporating doxorubicin.

Design—Nonrandomized controlled clinical trial.

Animals—114 dogs with lymphoma.

Procedures—Dogs were treated with a chemotherapeutic protocol consisting of L-asparaginase, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, methotrexate, and prednisolone (n = 87) or doxorubicin alone (27).

Results—63 of 86 (73%) dogs treated with the multiagent protocol (data on response was unavailable for 1 dog) and 14 of 27 (52%) dogs treated with the single-agent protocol had a complete remission. Dogs with lymphoma classified as substage ≤ and dogs with a high BUN concentration at the time of initial diagnosis were significantly less likely to have a complete remission. No significant difference in remission or survival time could be demonstrated between treatment groups. Incidence of hematologic and gastrointestinal tract toxicoses did not differ between treatment groups, with the exception that vomiting was more common among dogs treated with the multiagent protocol.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—In this population of dogs, we were not able to identify any significant difference in remission or survival times between dogs with lymphoma treated with a continuous, multiagent chemotherapeutic protocol and dogs treated with a short-term single-agent protocol involving doxorubicin.

Contributor Notes

This report is a multi-institutional, collaborative study of the Oncology Specialty Group of the German Small Animal Veterinary Association (GSAVA).

The authors thank Drs. Katja Culmsee, Natali Bauer, and Andrea Gessler for assistance.

Address correspondence to Dr. Simon.
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