Communicating with oncology clients.

Empathic, honest, and consistent communications that establish realistic goals and focus on quality of life (during and after therapy) for pets with cancer provide the basis of an excellent client-veterinarian relationship. From this foundation, a client can team up with his or her veterinarian to make the best possible decisions for the pet and for himself or herself regarding care for the companion animal.     

Phase II Clinical Trial of Carboplatin in Canine Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder

Fourteen dogs with histologically-confirmed transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder were treated with 300 mg/m² carboplatin every 3 weeks. Response to therapy was assessed with abdominal radiography, double contrast cystography, urinary bladder ultrasonography and thoracic radiography before therapy and at 6–week intervals during therapy. Dogs were monitored for hematologic toxicity with a CBC and platelet count performed immediately before and 10 to 14 days after carboplatin treatment. Tumor responses included progressive disease in 11 dogs and stable disease in 1 dog. Two dogs were euthanized due to carboplatin toxicity before assessment of tumor response. Toxicity included thrombocytopenia with or without neutropenia in 7 dogs and gastrointestinal toxicity in 6 dogs. Carboplatin therapy was not beneficial in the treatment of TCC in the 14 dogs in this study.     

RADIOGRAPHIC AND ULTRASONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS OF LIVER LOBE TORSION IN A DOG

A twelve-year-old neutered male beagle presented for a cranial abdominal mass. The results of physical examination, laboratory tests, radiography, and ultrasonography are presented. A torsion of the quadrate lobe of the liver was diagnosed at surgery and confirmed by histopathology. A brief discussion of liver lobe torsion is presented.     

Treatment of feline gastrointestinal small-cell lymphoma with chlorambucil and glucocorticoids

Gastrointestinal (GI) lymphoma is the most frequently diagnosed form of lymphoma in the cat and is categorized into two distinct forms based on the size of neoplastic lymphocytes. Treatments for both large- and small-cell GI lymphoma have been described previously; however, multiple chemotherapy protocols were used, a minimal amount of histopathological characterization was provided, and, in most studies, the majority of diagnoses were obtained via endoscopic pinch biopsies. Twenty-eight cats (24 with full-thickness intestinal biopsies) were diagnosed with small-cell GI lymphoma and treated with a combination of chlorambucil and glucocorticoids. The majority of cases were strongly CD3+, and many displayed epitheliotropism. The overall clinical response rate was 96%, with a median clinical remission duration of 786 days. Follow-up identified seven cats with relapsed disease-all of which were treated with a rescue protocol of cyclophosphamide and glucocorticoids; the response rate was 100%, and four of the 28 cats were diagnosed with a second malignancy.     

Canine schistosomiasis in Kansas: five cases (2000-2009)

This is a retrospective case series consisting of five dogs diagnosed with schistosomiasis. The purpose of this article is to report the presence of naturally occurring canine schistosomiasis in Kansas and to provide clinical details regarding schistosomiasis. Medical records of dogs diagnosed with schistosomiasis from 2000 to 2009 were reviewed, and information extracted included signalment, history, clinical signs, diagnostic test results, treatment, and outcome. Affected dogs were primarily medium to large breed and young to middle aged. All dogs were considered outdoor dogs, with three having known access to surface water. Common clinical signs included gastrointestinal disease and signs associated with hypercalcemia. Fecal flotation was negative in all dogs in contrast to fecal saline sedimentation and fecal polymerase chain reaction, which were both positive in all dogs in which it was performed. All dogs treated specifically for schistosomiasis fully recovered. This article describes the first reported cases of canine schistosomiasis in the Midwest and the first reported case of intestinal intussusception secondary to schistosomiasis. Recognizing that canine schistosomiasis is present in Kansas and possibly other Midwestern states should prompt veterinarians to perform appropriate diagnostic investigation in suspect animals as the diagnosis is straight forward and relatively inexpensive.     

Probing the chiroptical response of a single molecule

Chirally sensitive measurement techniques have generally been restricted to bulk samples. Here, we report the observation of fluorescence-detected circular dichroism (FDCD) from single (bridgedtriarylamine) helicene molecules by using an excitation wavelength (457 nanometers) in the vicinity of an electronic transition that shows circular dichroism in bulk samples. The distributions of dissymmetry (g) parameters by analysis of signals from pure M- and P-type diastereomers are almost perfect mirror images of one another, each spanning a range of both positive and negative values. In addition, we observe a well-defined structure in the histogram of dissymmetry parameters suggestive of specific molecular orientations at the polymer interface. These single-molecule results highlight strong intrinsic circular dichroism responses that can be obscured by cancellation effects in ensemble measurements of a randomly oriented bulk sample.     

Liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin (Doxil) and doxorubicin in the treatment of vaccine-associated sarcoma in cats

The purpose of this randomized, multicenter study was to evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin (LED) and doxorubicin (DOX) in the treatment of feline vaccine-associated sarcoma (VAS). Cats were divided according to their disease status into a microscopic arm (no evidence of gross disease) and a macroscopic arm (evidence of gross disease). Each arm was randomized to receive either LED (1-1.5 mg/kg i.v. q3 weeks) or DOX (1 mg/kg i.v. q3 weeks). Thirty-three cats were entered in the macroscopic arm of the study with an overall response rate of 39% (5 complete response and 8 partial response) and a median time to progression of 84 days. Response rates were not different between LED and DOX. Seventy-five cats were entered into the microscopic arm. When compared to a similar historical control population treated with surgery alone, the cats receiving chemotherapy had a prolonged median disease-free interval (388 days versus 93 days). No difference in efficacy was detected between LED and DOX. LED at 1.5 mg/kg induced delayed nephrotoxicosis in 23%, necessitating a decrease in the recommended dosage to 1 mg/kg, and cutaneous toxicosis in 21.7% of treated cats. This study showed that both DOX and LED are efficacious in the treatment of VAS and should be considered in the treatment of this tumor.     

Hemangiosarcoma in cats: 53 cases (1992-2002)

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the biological behavior and prognostic factors associated with hemangiosarcoma in cats. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 53 cats with hemangiosarcoma. PROCEDURES: Data were retrieved from a state veterinary diagnostic laboratory, 3 veterinary colleges, and a private practice. RESULTS: Cutaneous and subcutaneous tumor locations were more common than visceral (abdominal and thoracic) and oral locations. Surgical excision was the primary treatment in 47 cats. Tumor-free surgical margins were more likely in cutaneous than subcutaneous lesions and were associated with longer survival times. Local recurrence was observed in 6 of 12 cats with subcutaneous lesions for which follow-up was available. Metastatic disease was detected in 5 of 13 cats with adequate staging at initial diagnosis. A sixth cat had pulmonary metastases at the time of euthanasia. In 4 of 10 cats with visceral hemangiosarcoma, the diagnosis was made at necropsy or they were euthanized at the time of diagnosis. Adjuvant therapy was uncommonly used. Eighteen of the 21 known deaths or euthanasias were tumor-related. Higher mitotic counts (> 3 in 10 hpfs) were associated with shorter survival times. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Subcutaneous hemangiosarcoma was more biologically aggressive than the cutaneous form and was more likely to recur locally and result in euthanasia or death of the cat. Metastatic potential of the cutaneous and subcutaneous forms may be greater than previously reported. Visceral hemangiosarcoma is associated with a grave prognosis.