Absence of significant adverse events following thalidomide administration in bitches diagnosed with mammary gland carcinomas

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of adverse events (AEs) in female dogs diagnosed with advanced clinical stage mammary gland neoplasms following treatment with thalidomide. A prospective analysis of 29 female dogs treated with a high dose (HD) of 20 mg/kg/day of thalidomide for three months followed by a low dose (LD) of 10 mg/kg/day of thalidomide for three months was performed. All patients underwent physical examination, complete blood count, serum biochemistry profile, thoracic radiographs, and abdominal ultrasound analysis before the treatment and after the HD and LD. Clinical AEs were absent in 16/29 (55.17 per cent) patients following HD. An initial 3-5 day period of somnolence was described in 4/29 (13.79 per cent), prolonged somnolence in 5/29 (17.24 per cent), a short period of somnolence lasting only a few hours in 3/29 (10.34 per cent), and difficulty to rouse was described in 5/29 (17.24 per cent) cases. Two patients (6.89 per cent) presented with prolonged somnolence that interfered with activities of daily living, resulting in anticipation of the dose reduction to the proposed LD after 15 days of the HD treatment. Following dose reduction, AE improvement was observed in all patients. Albeit remaining within the reference ranges, erythrocytes, haematocrit, total leucocyte count, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase showed significant alteration associated to thalidomide treatment.

The impact of toceranib, piroxicam and thalidomide with or without hypofractionated radiation therapy on clinical outcome in dogs with inflammatory mammary carcinoma

“…Thalidomide has gained recent interest in veterinary oncology taking part into metronomic strategies . The anti‐angiogenic effect of thalidomide is believed to occur through the inhibition of VEGF, bFGF and TNF‐a .…”

“…24 Thalidomide has gained recent interest in veterinary oncology taking part into metronomic strategies. 17,[25][26][27] The anti-angiogenic effect of thalidomide is believed to occur through the inhibition of VEGF, bFGF and TNF-a. 28,29 Moreover, thalidomide has also the potential of inducing an immune-modulatory effect by inhibiting Tregs and interleukin 12, and by enhancing cytotoxic T-cell and natural killer lymphocyte responses.…”

“…Owners administering thalidomide were comprehensively informed of its known teratogenic effect. As a result of the reported somnolence related to its assumption, thalidomide was administered as a single daily dose in the evening …”

“…As a result of the reported somnolence related to its assumption, thalidomide was administered as a single daily dose in the evening. 17 Treatment was administered as long as it was proven efficacious and well tolerated. Adverse events were graded according to the Veterinary Cooperative Oncology Group guidelines.…”

Survival analysis of dogs with advanced primary lung carcinoma treated by metronomic cyclophosphamide, piroxicam and thalidomide

“…There are fewer reports of thalidomide use in dogs, either used as a single agent or as part of a metronomic regimen in combination with cyclophosphamide and piroxicam. These reports have shown a favourable toxicity profile and some anti‐tumor activity …”