Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Imatinib treatment for mast cell tumors in dogs with c-kit mutation
By Isotani, M et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2008·Department of Veterinary Clinical Pathology, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Effect of tyrosine kinase inhibition by imatinib mesylate on mast cell tumors in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 21 dogs with mast cell tumors (MCT) were treated with imatinib mesylate, a medication that targets specific proteins involved in tumor growth. The dogs had tumors that averaged about 7.2 cm in size. After starting treatment, nearly half of the dogs showed some improvement within two weeks, and all five dogs with a specific mutation in their tumors responded positively, with one achieving complete remission and four showing partial remission. This suggests that imatinib mesylate can be an effective treatment for MCT in dogs, although not all responses could be predicted based on genetic factors.
People also search for: dog mast cell tumor treatment · imatinib mesylate for dogs · mast cell tumor symptoms in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Imatinib mesylate is a small molecule targeted at dysregulated protein-tyrosine kinase. Mutation of c-kit exon 11, which induces constitutive phosphorylation of KIT, is one of the mechanisms for the development or progression of mast cell tumor (MCT) in dogs. The purpose of this study was to examine the therapeutic potential of imatinib mesylate in canine MCT. HYPOTHESIS: Imatinib mesylate has activity against MCT in dogs, and response to treatment can be correlated to presence of mutation within exon 11 of c-kit. ANIMALS: Twenty-one dogs with MCT with gross tumor burden and median tumor size of 7.2 cm (range, 1.0-25.3 cm) before treatment. METHODS: Tumors were analyzed for mutation of c-kit exon 11. Imatinib mesylate was administered PO to the dogs at a dose of 10 mg/kg daily for 1-9 weeks. RESULTS: Ten of 21 dogs (48%) had some beneficial response to imatinib mesylate treatment within 14 days of treatment initiation. All 5 dogs with a demonstrable c-kit mutation in exon 11 responded to the drug (1 complete remission, 4 partial remission). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Imatinib mesylate has clinical activity against MCT in dogs. Response could not be predicted based on presence of absence of a mutation in exon 11 of c-kit.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18564222/