Large granular lymphoma in six cats

Abstract

Large granular lymphomas (LGLs) comprise a specific group of lymphomas regardless of classification scheme. An LGL consists of cells that show less or more mature morphology, but typically neoplastic cells possess cytoplasmic azurophilic granules clearly visible during cytological examination. The aim of the present study was to present clinical and cytological data on large granular lymphomas in cats and to analyses the therapeutic responses in treated cases. During the period from 2012 to 2014 six cats were as having large granular lymphoma. In one cat a nasal form of LGL was recognized, a systemic form was recognized in another cat, and in four cases an alimentary form was recognized. Cellular samples for cytopathology were collected from the cat with nasal cavity mass, from the enlarged mandibular lymph node and thoracic cavity from second cat, and in four cats from the abdominal mass during ultrasound-assisted fine-needle biopsy. Therapy was introduced in 5 of the 6 cats. In two cases palliative therapy with glucocorticoids was conducted, in two cases chemotherapy with COP protocol, and therapy with masitinib in one case. The median of survival time for cats treated with anticancer therapy was 9 months, the median of survival time for cats treated with glucocorticoids was 1.5 months. In conclusion, large granular lymphomas, especially the alimentary form, are a relatively common type of lymphoma in cats. Simple diagnostic methods such as clinical examination, imaging techniques and routine cytology are sufficient in majority of cases. Despite aggressive behavior and poor general prognosis, conventional chemotherapy lead to a good response in some treated cats regardless of anatomic form and histologic grade of malignancy.

Outcomes in 40 cats with discrete intermediate‐ or large‐cell gastrointestinal lymphoma masses treated with surgical mass resection (2005‐2015)

“…There is also a dichotomy in cases of feline LSA, with potentially greater than half of cats lacking significant response to chemotherapy and only a small subset of cats entering a durable clinical remission. Cats that are nonresponsive to chemotherapy have short MST ranging from 27 to 73 days, which is less than or statistically equal to the MST in this study.…”

“…Similarly to previous reports, immunophenotype and/or morphological phenotype was not found to be predictive of survival. Although large granular LSA historically has been noted to have a poor long‐term prognosis, with some reported MST less than two months, this group had the longest MST in the study reported here . This subtype is often noted to be particularly aggressive, usually with advanced disease at diagnosis, but only 50% of the LGL‐type cats in this study had confirmed involvement of their LSA in local lymph nodes.…”

“…Most often, this treatment consists of COP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisolone) or CHOP (plus doxorubicin)‐based protocols. Unlike in dogs, in which multicentric LSA predominates and is overwhelmingly responsive to chemotherapy, the response to multiagent chemotherapy in cats with feline GI large‐cell LSA is less predictable, with overall response rates ranging from 30% to 75% . Response durability also tends to be less favorable, with reported median survival times (MST) of 3 to 6 months .…”

“…Unlike in dogs, in which multicentric LSA predominates and is overwhelmingly responsive to chemotherapy, the response to multiagent chemotherapy in cats with feline GI large-cell LSA is less predictable, with overall response rates ranging from 30% to 75%. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Response durability also tends to be less favorable, with reported median survival times (MST) of 3 to 6 months. 1,[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] However, MST tends to be closely linked to response to chemotherapy.…”

“…[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Response durability also tends to be less favorable, with reported median survival times (MST) of 3 to 6 months. 1,[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] However, MST tends to be closely linked to response to chemotherapy. Survival time is short in cats that experience either partial or no response to medical treatment, while survival times exceeding one year are documented in cats that undergo a complete response.…”