Principles and Applications of Medical Oncology in Exotic Animals.

Diagnoses of neoplasia in exotic animals have historically been made at death or just before euthanasia. Routine physical examinations are enabling early diagnosis while accessibility and affordability of advanced diagnostics are improving. With increasing expectations for care, treatment options are more frequently explored.

Safety of administering the canine melanoma DNA vaccine (Oncept) to cats with malignant melanoma - a retrospective study.

Objectives A xenogeneic human tyrosinase DNA vaccine was developed for treatment of dogs with oral malignant melanoma (Oncept; Merial). No studies have evaluated the safety or efficacy of this vaccine in cats. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of the canine melanoma vaccine in cats diagnosed with melanoma.

Exploration of paclitaxel (Taxol) as a treatment for malignant tumors in cats: a descriptive case series.

Paclitaxel, an effective chemotherapeutic agent in human oncology, has received little evaluation in feline patients. The diluent used to solubilize paclitaxel, polyoxyethylated castor oil (Cremophor EL), causes anaphylactoid reactions in human and dogs, which limits enthusiasm for use of this agent in veterinary oncology. Nine feline patients with measurable malignant tumors were treated with paclitaxel at a dosage of 80 mg/m(2) intravenously every 21 days for up to two doses.

Detection of retinoid receptors in non-neoplastic canine lymph nodes and in lymphoma.

This study evaluated the difference in retinoid receptor expression between non-neoplastic lymph nodes and nodal lymphoma in dogs. Retinoid receptor expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 32 canine lymph nodes. The lymph nodes had been previously diagnosed as non-neoplastic (6 normal and 7 hyperplastic lymph nodes) and B- and T-cell lymphoma (19 cases).

Pharmacologic inhibition of MEK signaling prevents growth of canine hemangiosarcoma.

Angiosarcoma is a rare neoplasm of endothelial origin that has limited treatment options and poor five-year survival. As a model for human angiosarcoma, we studied primary cells and tumorgrafts derived from canine hemangiosarcoma (HSA), which is also an endothelial malignancy with similar presentation and histology. Primary cells isolated from HSA showed constitutive extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation.

Development of a survey instrument to assess health-related quality of life in small animal cancer patients treated with chemotherapy.

Objective: To develop a quality of life (QOL) survey for use in a canine cancer chemotherapy setting, validate the instrument's utility, identify key questions that facilitate client and clinician communication regarding decisions in patient care, and use human and veterinary QOL literature to develop a comprehensive yet simple proxy survey instrument.

Design: Survey.

Animals: 29 canine chemotherapy patients.

Clinicopathologic significance of histologic grade, pgp, and p53 expression in canine lymphoma.

To characterize the expression of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and p53 in different histologic grades of canine multicentric lymphosarcoma (LSA), 31 cases of LSA without prior treatment were studied. The expression levels of the Pgp and p53 proteins were evaluated for their clinicopathologic significance among standard histologic evaluation. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival samples of 31 previously untreated LSA cases to detect the expression of Pgp and p53.

Expression of the Bcl-2 apoptotic marker in cats diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease and gastrointestinal lymphoma.

Immunolabeling for the critical lymphocyte survival factor, Bcl-2, of intestinal biopsies from cats with histologic evidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or gastrointestinal (GI) lymphoma was evaluated to determine if expression differed significantly between these two disease processes. Immunolabeling for Bcl-2 was performed on small intestinal endoscopic or full thickness biopsy sections from 55 cats. Diagnosis of IBD, T-cell lymphoma or B-cell lymphoma was established previously.

Treatment-related toxicities in tumor-bearing cats treated with temozolomide alone or in combination with doxorubicin: a pilot assessment.

A retrospective study assessing treatment-related toxicities in tumor-bearing cats treated with temozolomide (TMZ) alone or in combination with doxorubicin was conducted. TMZ was administered orally once a day for 5 days every 3 weeks at a dose of 20 mg/cat. Tumor response was evaluated with standard World Health Organization criteria and toxicity was monitored using veterinary co-operative oncology group-common terminology criteria for adverse events (VCOG--CTCAE) criteria.

Evaluation of the use of chemotherapy and other prognostic variables for surgically excised canine thyroid carcinoma with and without metastasis.

This retrospective study compared the efficacy of surgery alone versus surgery in combination with chemotherapy in the treatment of canine thyroid carcinoma; potential prognostic factors were evaluated. Forty-four dogs with biopsy-confirmed thyroid carcinoma met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-eight dogs were treated with surgery alone and 16 with surgery and chemotherapy.

Evaluation and comparison of outcomes in dogs with periarticular and nonperiarticular histiocytic sarcoma.

Objective: To evaluate and compare the outcomes of dogs with periarticular histiocytic sarcoma (PAHS) and histiocytic sarcoma of other anatomic locations (non-PAHS) and identify factors associated with outcome for dogs with PAHS.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Animals: 19 dogs with PAHS and 31 dogs with non-PAHS.

Treatment with DAV for advanced-stage hemangiosarcoma in dogs.

Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is an aggressive disease that is fairly common in the dog. The authors evaluated a doxorubicin, dacarbazine, and vincristine (DAV) combination protocol in dogs with nonresectable stage II and stage III HSA. Twenty-four dogs were enrolled in this prospective, phase 2 study.

Treatment of an amelanotic melanoma using radiation therapy in a lesser Madagascar hedgehog tenrec (Echinops telfairi).

A 15-yr-old, male lesser Madagascar hedgehog tenrec (Echinops telfairi) presented with a mass caudal to the right ear. Cytology suggested a sarcoma. Surgical removal was attempted.

Use of a balloon-expandable metallic stent to relieve malignant urethral obstruction in a cat.

Case Description: A 19-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat was evaluated because of signs of urinary tract obstruction.

Clinical Findings: Physical examination findings were consistent with urethral obstruction, and a mass could be palpated in the region of the bladder neck. Abdominal ultrasonography and thoracic radiography revealed a mass in the trigone of the urinary bladder and a solitary mass in the left caudal lung lobe.

Measurement of serum carboxyterminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen concentration in dogs with osteosarcoma.

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of carboxyterminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) concentrations for screening dogs for the presence of osteosarcoma.

Sample Population: 32 client-owned dogs with osteosarcoma (27 dogs with osteosarcoma of the appendicular skeleton and 5 dogs with osteosarcoma of the axial skeleton) and 44 non-tumor-bearing control dogs.

Procedures: Serum was obtained from blood samples collected from dogs with osteosarcoma and from clinically normal dogs.

Telomere length in normal and neoplastic canine tissues.

Objective: To determine the mean telomere restriction fragment (TRF) length in normal and neoplastic canine tissues.

Sample Population: 57 solid-tissue tumor specimens collected from client-owned dogs, 40 samples of normal tissue collected from 12 clinically normal dogs, and blood samples collected from 4 healthy blood donor dogs.

Procedures: Tumor specimens were collected from client-owned dogs during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures at the University of Illinois Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, whereas 40 normal tissue samples were collected from 12 control dogs.

Efficacy of temozolomide or dacarbazine in combination with an anthracycline for rescue chemotherapy in dogs with lymphoma.

Objective: To compare results of treatment with temozolomide or dacarbazine, in combination with an anthracycline, in dogs with relapsed or refractory lymphoma.

Design: Nonrandomized, controlled clinical trial.

Animals: 63 dogs with relapsed or refractory lymphoma.

Isolation, characterization, and expression of stromelysin-1 in primary tumors of dogs.

Objective: To isolate and characterize the cDNA sequence of canine stromelysin-1 (matrix metalloproteinase [MMPI-3), screen various naturally developing primary tumors of dogs, and assess the effect of stromelysin-1 on survival of dogs with cancer.

Sample Population: 3 canine cell lines and biopsy specimens of primary tumors collected from 54 dogs.

Procedure: 3 canine cell lines and biopsy specimens of primary tumors collected from 54 dogs at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital were used in the study.

Cobalt radiation with or without low-dose cisplatin for treatment of canine naso-sinus carcinomas.

The objective of this study was to determine if low-dose cisplatin could be added safely to radiation therapy for the treatment of naso-sinus carcinomas in dogs. Thirty-one dogs were evaluated; 18 of these dogs received cobalt radiation in combination with low-dose cisplatin while 13 dogs received radiation alone. No difference was observed for acute or late radiation effects.

Expression of matrix metalloproteinases in feline vaccine site-associated sarcomas.

Objectives: To screen for expression of 9 predominant members of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family, including membrane-type matrix metalloproteinases (MT-MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), in primary tumor tissue biopsy specimens of vaccine site-associated sarcomas (VSS) in cats and compare expression profiles of VSS with expression profiles of non-VSS and carcinomas.

Sample Population: 31 primary tumor tissue biopsy specimens and 6 nontumor (normal) tissue biopsy specimens.

Procedures: Tissue specimens were obtained from primary tumor biopsy specimens of cats.

Isolation, characterization, and expression of feline stromelysin-1 in naturally developing tumors in cats.

Objective: To detect, isolate, and characterize feline stromelysin-1 (ie, matrix metalloproteinase [MMP]-3) in naturally developing tumors in cats.

Sample Population: 31 tissue samples obtained from primary tumors and 6 samples of normal tissues from cats.

Procedure: Biopsy specimens were obtained from primary tumors.

The basic biology of malignant melanoma: molecular mechanisms of disease progression and comparative aspects.

Malignant melanoma (MM) is a life-threatening disease characterized by a highly aggressive biologic behavior in both humans and dogs. Despite improvements in diagnosis and patient care, most deaths from MM are due to metastases that are resistant to conventional treatment modalities. To ultimately reduce the mortality associated with metastatic disease, it is necessary to better define the fundamental molecular mechanisms of malignant tumor progression.

Gemcitabine as a radiosensitizer for nonresectable feline oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Eight cats with locally advanced, oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were treated with a combination of gemcitabine and palliative radiotherapy. Low-dose gemcitabine was administered twice weekly (25 mg/m2) in conjunction with megavoltage radiation in 6 Gray (Gy) fractions for a total dose of 36 Gy. Responses included two complete and four partial responses, and two cats had no response to therapy.

Identification of Haemobartonella felis (Mycoplasma haemofelis) in captive nondomestic cats.

This study was undertaken to determine whether Haemobartonella felis (Mycoplasma haemofelis), the causative bacterial agent of feline infectious anemia, infects nondomestic cats. Routine complete blood count and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed to detect the gene for 16S ribosomal RNA for the organism. Sixty-four blood samples were collected from 54 nondomestic cats, including tigers (Panthera tigris), cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), lions (P.

New chemotherapy agents in veterinary medicine.

Several anticancer drugs have been added to the therapeutic armamentarium in recent years. Some of these agents are traditional drugs with a long history of use in human oncology. Increased sophistication in clinical trial design in veterinary oncology has allowed the incorporation of agents previously viewed as excessively toxic.