Doxorubicin chemotherapy for presumptive cardiac hemangiosarcoma in dogs.

Abstract

Sixty-four dogs were treated with single-agent doxorubicin (DOX) for presumptive cardiac hemangiosarcoma (cHSA). The objective response rate (CR&#x2009;+&#x2009;PR) was 41%, and the biologic response rate (CR&#x2009;+&#x2009;PR&#x2009;+&#x2009;SD), or clinical benefit, was 68%. The median progression-free survival (PFS) for treated dogs was 66&#x2009;days. The median survival time (MST) for this group was 116&#x2009;days and was significantly improved compared to a MST of 12&#x2009;days for untreated control dogs (P&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.0001). Biologic response was significantly associated with improved PFS (P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.0001) and OS (P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.0001). Univariate analysis identified larger tumour size as a variable negatively associated with PFS. The high rate of clinical benefit and improved MST suggest that DOX has activity in canine cHSA.