Efficacy of Combination Chemotherapy for Treatment of Gastrointestinal Lymphoma in Dogs

Abstract

Background: Chemotherapy for multicentric canine lymphoma has favorable results. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the most common extranodal site of canine lymphoma, but there have been no prospective studies to determine outcome when dogs with GI lymphoma are treated with chemotherapy.Hypothesis: Treatment with a multiagent chemotherapy protocol is associated with a poor outcome in dogs with GI lymphoma. Animals: Eighteen dogs with histologically confirmed GI lymphoma. Methods: Prospective clinical trial in which dogs with GI lymphoma were treated with a 20-week combination chemotherapy protocol consisting of induction and consolidation phases.Results: Thirteen dogs had primary GI lymphoma and 5 had multicentric lymphoma with GI involvement. The majority of the lymphomas (63%) were of T-cell origin. Overall remission rate was 56%; 9 dogs achieved a complete remission for a median of 86 days (range, 22-420 days) and 1 dog achieved a partial remission for 26 days. Overall median survival time was 77 days (range, 6-700 days). Dogs that failed to achieve a remission (10 versus 117 days; P 5 .002) or had diarrhea at initial presentation (70 versus 700 days; P o .001) had shorter survival times.Conclusion and Clinical Importance: The response and survival of dogs with GI lymphoma treated with multiagent chemotherapy is poor but long-term survival is possible.

Gastrointestinal B-lymphoblastic lymphoma in a dog: a case report

“…The overall survival time (487 days) exceeded the longest survival time of a dog with primary GI B-cell lymphoma reported by Rassnick et al (2009) and this despite the lymphoma being histologically confirmed in the stomach, small and large intestine. Despite the negative prognostic indicators, complete clinical remission and long survival was achieved.…”

“…Median survival time is longer for dogs with B-cell GI lymphoma in comparison to those with the T-cell lymphoma, but the difference is not statistically significant (Rassnick et al 2009). Marconato et al (2011) noticed higher complete response rates among dogs with B-cell lymphomas treated with a CHOP-based protocol.…”

“…The median overall survival time is 77 days for dogs with GI lymphoma and 106 days for dogs with B-cell GI lymphoma (Rassnick et al 2009). Median survival time is longer for dogs with B-cell GI lymphoma in comparison to those with the T-cell lymphoma, but the difference is not statistically significant (Rassnick et al 2009).…”

“…Diarrhoea at the time of presentation and no response to chemotherapy are associated with short survival time according to Rassnick et al (2009).…”

“…Despite treatment, patients are usually euthanised within a few weeks due to a worsening of their clinical status (Couto et al 1989;Frank et al 2007). However, CHOP-based protocols have resulted in durable remissions in some cases (Frank et al 2007;Rassnick et al 2009). …”