The biological behavior of MCTs is highly variable and improvements in understanding of the natural history and prognostic indicators as well as the indications for multimodal therapy, will further result in better outcomes in canine patients with MCT. PATHOGENESIS OF MCTsThe aetiology of MCTs is unknown but, as with most neoplasms is probably multi-factorial, and the well- Mutations of c-kit, characterized by internal tandem duplications, produce a constitutively activated KIT protein in the absence of ligands 35,49,58 that leads to extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation. 58 Little is known about the consequences of these mutations. However, c-kit mutations and aberrant KIT protein localization are associated with increased expression of Ki67 and argyrophilic nucleolar organizing regions (AgNORs), both of which are markers of increased cellular proliferation. 47 Moreover, in vitro testing of drugs targeting the KIT tyrosine kinase receptor demonstrated inhibition of proliferation of canine MCT cell lines and primary neoplastic MCs, associated with cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. 59 Despite these findings, no genetic defects in c-kit are identified in more than 60% of canineMCTs. This suggests that, mutations in this gene are associated with the development or progression of some MCTs, but mutations in other genes are likely to be involved in the initiation and progression of most canine MCTs.

Despite frequent complications and recurring signs of lower urinary tract disease, 32.2 per cent of the cats had a disease-free long-term outcome (mean four years, median 3.9 years), and 88.6 per cent of clients interviewed thought that their cats had a good quality of life after surgery.

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Hypertonic solutions affect platelet function and whole blood coagulation to a greater extent than saline and HES. At clinically relevant dilutions, only CTPFA was markedly more affected by hypertonic solutions than by saline. At high dilutions, HES significantly affects coagulation but to no greater extent than saline at clinically relevant dilutions.

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