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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Low local recurrence after chemo and surgery for dog mast cell tumors

By Ciammaichella, Luca et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·2024·Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Italy·View original on PubMed

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Original publication title: Reassigned surgical margins after neoadjuvant chemotherapy results in low local recurrence in dogs with mast cell tumours.

Species:
dog

Plain-English summary

A group of 22 dogs with mast cell tumors (a type of skin cancer) received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) using vinblastine and prednisolone before surgery. This treatment helped shrink the tumors by an average of 40%, allowing for less extensive surgery. After surgery, only 2 out of the 22 dogs experienced a recurrence of their tumors, indicating that the reassigned surgical margins were effective. Overall, this approach resulted in a low rate of local recurrence, suggesting that NAC can be a beneficial part of treatment for dogs with mast cell tumors.

People also search for: dog mast cell tumor treatment · chemotherapy for dog cancer · mast cell tumor recurrence in dogs

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is delivered before surgery to allow less extensive tumour resection, but the optimal surgical margin width after NAC is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of reassigned margins on local recurrence after NAC in dogs with mast cell tumours (MCTs). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted for dogs with MCTs undergoing NAC consisting of vinblastine and prednisolone, subsequent tumour resection and lymphadenectomy, and a minimum follow-up of 6 months. Surgical margins were reassigned based on the size of the MCT after NAC. Pre- and post-NAC measurements of MCTs were recorded. The margin status was assessed with a combined radial and tangential sectioning technique; pre-NAC MCT cytograde and lymph node (LN) cytological status were compared with the Kiupel grade and Weishaar stage, respectively. RESULTS: Twenty-two dogs were included. MCT shrinkage after NAC consistently occurred, with a median reduction rate of 40.4% (range 5%-94.5%). Margins were complete in 15 of 22 dogs, and two MCTs and three LNs appeared histologically downgraded and downstaged, respectively. Two (9.1%) MCTs recurred. LIMITATIONS: The limitations of this study were the small sample size and relatively short follow-up. CONCLUSION: NAC leads to shrinkage of canine MCTs, with the resulting reassigned surgical margins being associated with a low recurrence rate.

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Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39262039/