Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
CCNU chemotherapy for dogs with histiocytic sarcoma survival
By Skorupski, Katherine A et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2007·Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: CCNU for the treatment of dogs with histiocytic sarcoma.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs diagnosed with histiocytic sarcoma, an aggressive type of cancer, were treated with a chemotherapy drug called CCNU to see if it could help improve their survival. Out of 59 dogs treated, about 46% showed a positive response to the treatment, with some living over 433 days after starting CCNU. However, dogs with low platelet counts or low protein levels in their blood had a poorer prognosis, often surviving less than a month. Overall, CCNU appears to be a promising option for treating this serious cancer in dogs, especially for those without additional health issues.
People also search for: dog histiocytic sarcoma treatment · CCNU chemotherapy for dogs · dog cancer survival rates
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Histiocytic sarcoma is an aggressive neoplasm of dendritic cells that carries a grave prognosis. The efficacy of chemotherapy against this disease is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU) in dogs with incompletely resected or metastatic histiocytic sarcoma, to describe the clinical characteristics of these dogs, and to identify factors affecting prognosis. HYPOTHESIS: Our hypothesis is that CCNU has activity against canine histiocytic sarcoma and can improve survival in dogs with advanced disease. ANIMALS: Included in analysis are dogs diagnosed with histiocytic sarcoma who had gross measurable or residual microscopic disease and who received CCNU. METHODS: A multi-institutional, retrospective, single-arm cohort study was conducted. Available biopsy samples were tested with an antibody against CD18 when possible to confirm the diagnosis of histiocytic sarcoma. RESULTS: Fifty-nine dogs were treated at 8 institutions. Twenty-three tumor specimens were confirmed to be CD18 positive. Treatment with CCNU at 60 to 90 mg/m2 resulted in an overall response rate of 46% in the 56 dogs with gross measurable disease. All 3 dogs with minimal residual disease experienced tumor relapse but lived 433 days or more after starting CCNU. The median survival of all 59 dogs was 106 days. Thrombocytopenia (< 100,000 platelets/microL) and hypoalbuminemia were found to be negatively associated with prognosis and were predictive of < 1 month survival. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Results suggest that CCNU is active against canine histiocytic sarcoma and may be useful in the treatment of dogs without negative prognostic factors.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17338159/