Treatment of feline lymphoma using a 12‐week, maintenance‐free combination chemotherapy protocol in 26 cats

Abstract

The aim of this prospective clinical trial was to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of a short-term, maintenance-free chemotherapy protocol in feline lymphoma. Twenty-six cats with confirmed diagnosis of high-/intermediate-grade lymphoma were treated with a 12-week protocol consisting of cyclic administration of L-asparaginase, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisolone. Complete (CR) and partial remission (PR) rates were 46 and 27%, respectively. Median duration of first CR was 394 days compared with a median PR duration of 41 days. No factor was identified to significantly influence the likelihood to reach CR. Overall survival amounted to 78 days (range: 9-2230 days). Median survival in CR cats was 454 days and in PR cats was 82 days. Toxicosis was mainly low grade with anorexia seen most frequently. In cats achieving CR, maintenance-free chemotherapy may be sufficient to attain long-term remission and survival. Factors aiding in prognosticating the likelihood for CR, strategies enhancing response and targeting chemotherapy-induced anorexia need to be identified in future.

Feline discrete high‐grade gastrointestinal lymphoma treated with surgical resection and adjuvantCHOP‐based chemotherapy: retrospective study of 20 cases

“…These survival times are generally longer in duration because response to treatment and achieving complete remission has been shown to correlate with longer survival times for this disease. Similarly, the DFI of the current study (357 days) was found to be similar to the previously reported remission durations ranging from 126 to 394 days . The reported DFI in this study is admittedly an overestimation considering that some of the cases were in a more advanced stage of disease and therefore would have gone into remission later during the course of treatment.…”

“…The median overall survival times for these studies range from 78 to 280 days, all of which are lower than the observed survival time of 417 days in this study. This survival time is perhaps more comparable to the MSTs of cats that achieved complete remission in recent studies, which have been reported as being 290 to 654 days . These survival times are generally longer in duration because response to treatment and achieving complete remission has been shown to correlate with longer survival times for this disease.…”

“…The most common protocols are CHOP‐based and COP‐based, however the use of doxorubicin, l ‐asparaginase and methotrexate varies between studies. The median overall survival times for these studies range from 78 to 280 days, all of which are lower than the observed survival time of 417 days in this study. This survival time is perhaps more comparable to the MSTs of cats that achieved complete remission in recent studies, which have been reported as being 290 to 654 days .…”

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

“…The alimentary tract is now the most frequently diagnosed primary site for LSA. The incidence of LSA in other sites, which are more commonly affected by feline leukemia virus‐related cancer, is decreasing . Feline gastrointestinal (GI) LSA is histologically subtyped according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification system.…”

“…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 . However, MST tends to be closely linked to response to chemotherapy.…”