Treatment of Canine Hemangiosarcoma: 2000 and Beyond

Abstract

Canine hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is an aggressive and malignant neoplasia with a grave prognosis. Surgery and chemotherapy have limited success in prolonging survival times and increasing quality of life in dogs with HSA. Advances in medical oncology are resulting in increased survival rates and a better quality of life for veterinary cancer patients. An understanding of mechanisms of metastasis has led to the development of new treatments designed to delay or inhibit tumor spread. Promising new treatment options include novel delivery systems (inhalation or intracavitary chemotherapy); use of immunomodulators such as liposome-encapsulated muramyl tripeptide-phosphatidylethanolamine; antimetastatic agents such as inhibitors of angiogenesis (interferons, thalidomide), matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors, and minocycline; dietary modifications; and gene therapy. Inhibitors of angiogenesis seem to be safe and, unlike conventional chemotherapy, do not induce drug resistance. Although many of the newer approaches are still under development and review, the use of multimodality therapy incorporating innovative treatment modalities may offer the best therapeutic option for dogs affected with HSA.

Hemangiosarcoma in cats: 53 cases (1992–2002)

“…Vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide canine subcutaneous hemangiosarcoma is more likely to metastasize than that of dermal origin, 6 data in cats regarding this issue are sparse. The low number of recognized cases of feline hemangiosarcoma has made large studies regarding biological behavior, treatment outcomes, and prognostic factors difficult.…”

Overexpression of Peroxiredoxin 6 Protects Neoplastic Cells against Apoptosis in Canine Haemangiosarcoma

“…HSA occurs more frequently in dogs than in any other species and is characterized by a poor prognosis, with an incidence between 0.3 and 2.0% of all canine tumours; German shepherd dogs, golden retrievers and Labrador retrievers are overrepresented. HSA can develop in any tissue, although the most frequently reported primary sites in dogs are the spleen (28e63%), the right atrium and auricle (3e50%) and the skin or subcutaneous tissues (23.9%) (Pearson and Head, 1976;Brown et al, 1985;Clifford et al, 2000).…”

Protracted disseminated skeletal metastases from angiosarcoma of the spleen

“…Early and aggressive therapy is appropriate for this group of patients. The application of Thalidomide, as an experimental anti-angiogenesis substance to inhibit the progression of vascular tumor growth is expanding [17][18][19][20][21]. Thalidomide treatment was applied under the general assumption of an aggressive but benign vascular process during the ongoing histopathological investigation.…”