Results of chemotherapy for cats with alimentary malignant lymphoma: 21 cases (1993-1997)

Courtney H. Zwahlen From the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (Zwahlen), Center for Companion Animal Health (Lucroy), and Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences (Kraegel, Madewell), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616-8734.

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Michael D. Lucroy From the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (Zwahlen), Center for Companion Animal Health (Lucroy), and Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences (Kraegel, Madewell), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616-8734.

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Susan A. Kraegel From the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (Zwahlen), Center for Companion Animal Health (Lucroy), and Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences (Kraegel, Madewell), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616-8734.

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Bruce R. Madewell From the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (Zwahlen), Center for Companion Animal Health (Lucroy), and Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences (Kraegel, Madewell), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616-8734.

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Objective

To determine clinical and pathologic findings in cats with alimentary malignant lymphoma and results of treatment with a combination of prednisone, l-asparaginase, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and methotrexate.

Design

Retrospective study.

Animals

21 cats with alimentary malignant lymphoma.

Procedure

Medical records were reviewed, and information on signalment, clinical history and signs, previous treatments, and results of laboratory tests, thoracic radiography, and abdominal ultrasonography were obtained.

Results

Test results in all cats were negative for FeLV; 3 of 19 were positive for feline immunodeficiency virus. Thirteen tumors were stage III, 7 were stage IV, and 1 was stage V. Diagnosis was confirmed on the basis of microscopic examination of histologic (n = 13) or cytologic (8) specimens. Immunophenotyping was performed on 13 tumors; 10 were T-cell and 3 were B-cell lymphomas. Overall median duration of first remission was 20 weeks. Overall median survival time was 40 weeks. The only factor significantly associated with duration of first remission was whether cats had a complete response following induction chemotherapy; duration of first remission was significantly associated with survival time. Cats tolerated treatment well; only 1 cat had a delay in the treatment schedule because of neutropenia.

Clinical Implications

Use of a multidrug chemotherapeutic protocol that includes l-asparaginase and doxorubicin results in minimal adverse effects and prolonged survival times in cats with alimentary malignant lymphoma. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 1998;213:1144-1149)

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Cover Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Issue:
15 Oct 1998
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