Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Feline lymphoma treated with 12-week chemo without maintenance
By Limmer, S et al.·Published in Veterinary and comparative oncology·2016·Small Animal Hospital, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Treatment of feline lymphoma using a 12-week, maintenance-free combination chemotherapy protocol in 26 cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 26 cats diagnosed with lymphoma (a type of cancer) underwent a 12-week chemotherapy treatment that didn't require ongoing maintenance. The cats received a combination of medications, and about 46% achieved complete remission, meaning their cancer was no longer detectable, while 27% had partial remission. Cats that reached complete remission lived an average of 454 days longer, while those with partial remission lived about 82 days. Most side effects were mild, with loss of appetite being the most common. This treatment approach showed promise for helping cats with lymphoma achieve longer survival without the need for continuous therapy.
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Abstract
The aim of this prospective clinical trial was to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of a short-term, maintenance-free chemotherapy protocol in feline lymphoma. Twenty-six cats with confirmed diagnosis of high-/intermediate-grade lymphoma were treated with a 12-week protocol consisting of cyclic administration of l-asparaginase, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisolone. Complete (CR) and partial remission (PR) rates were 46 and 27%, respectively. Median duration of first CR was 394 days compared with a median PR duration of 41 days. No factor was identified to significantly influence the likelihood to reach CR. Overall survival amounted to 78 days (range: 9-2230 days). Median survival in CR cats was 454 days and in PR cats was 82 days. Toxicosis was mainly low grade with anorexia seen most frequently. In cats achieving CR, maintenance-free chemotherapy may be sufficient to attain long-term remission and survival. Factors aiding in prognosticating the likelihood for CR, strategies enhancing response and targeting chemotherapy-induced anorexia need to be identified in future.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24548273/