Non Hogdkin's lymphoma is the commonest malignant neoplasm in humans and in pets. Treatments include systemic chemotherapy eventually combined with radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is also used ...as single agent for the treatment of localized lymphoma (LSA). Albeit efficacious, this modality is potentially associated with side effects. Purpose of this study was to preliminarily evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of electrochemotherapy (ECT) in companion animals with localized lymphoma. Six patients entered the study and received two sessions of ECT under sedation. The pets had local injection of bleomycin at the concentration of 1.5 mg/mg and five minutes after the chemotherapy, trains of 8 biphasic electric pulses lasting 50 + 50 micros each, with 1 ms interpulse intervals, were delivered by means of modified caliper electrodes or for difficult districts, through paired needle electrode. All the patients achieved complete responses (lasting 1 week through 3 years), one cat with nasal LSA had local recurrence and two others experienced spinal and intestinal relapse. Side effects were not noted with the exception of focal alopecia in a cat with retrobulbar LSA. Electrochemotherapy appears as a safe and efficacious modality for the treatment of localized lymphoma and warrants further investigations.
: Apoptosis protease‐activating factor‐1 (Apaf‐1) is a key regulator of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, being the central element of the multimeric apoptosome formed by procaspase 9, cytochrome ...c, and Apaf‐1 itself. In this review, the principal aspects about Apaf‐1 gene structure and function, and its role in the apoptotic machinery, are described. Moreover, the most recent findings about the involvement of this molecule in melanoma progression and chemoresistance, as well as the clinico‐pathological relevance of these findings in the treatment of this deadly disease, are reported.
Perianal tumors (adenoma and carcinoma of the hepatoid glands) are frequently reported in veterinary literature. They are locally aggressive tumors with a low tendency to metastatic spread. An ...hormonal ethiology has been identified for the development of perianal adenomas in male dogs, while the carcinomas are free from hormonal influence. Standard treatments include surgery, cryotherapy or, in selected cases, radiation therapy. In this article we describe the outcome of a small cohort of canine patients with perianal tumors treated with bleomycin selectively driven by trains of biphasic pulses (electrochemotherapy). Twelve canine patients, eight with adenoma and four with carcinoma of the perianal glands, entered the study and received two sessions of ECT under sedation. The pets had local injection ofbleomycin at the concentration of 1.5 mg/mg and five minutes after the chemotherapy, trains of 8 biphasic electric pulses lasting 50 + 50 micros each, with 1 ms interpulse intervals, were delivered by means of modified caliper and needle array electrodes or, for difficult districts, through paired needle electrode. The overall response rate was 91% with a 83% of complete response (10/12); one dog had a PR that lasted 12 months and another had progressive disease. Electrochemotherapy appears as a safe and efficacious modality for the treatment of perianal tumors and warrants further investigations.
An eight-year-old, male boxer dog was referred for the treatment of a large (5·5x5 cm), unresectable visceral mast cell tumour. The dog had a surgical resection performed one month before referral, ...and it had widespread metastases to the abdominal lymph nodes. The patient was treated with lomustine and prednisone and showed a rapid improvement and increased level of activity, weight gain and consistent tumour reduction. The patient remained in partial remission (defined as a greater than 50 per cent reduction in tumour volume) for seven months. Toxicity was acceptable and was limited to moderate anaemia and two episodes of neutropenia. At the completion of the seven months of therapy, the dog experienced a chemotherapy-induced sepsis, and the owners elected for euthanasia due to financial concerns. At that time, the tumour was still in partial remission. This case report suggests that a combination of lomustine and prednisone is an effective protocol for the palliation of aggressive visceral mast cell tumours.
Mucosal melanomas account for 1% of all malignant melanomas in humans. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation therapy; however, local recurrence and distant ...dissemination are still frequent. We treated locally aggressive spontaneous canine oral melanomas that, because of their advanced stage, were not treatable with conventional strategies. A cohort of 10 dogs with oral melanoma was enrolled over a 4-year period. The dogs received two sessions of local bleomycin, followed by the application of trains of biphasic pulses. The treatment was well tolerated and resulted in an overall response rate of 80% with 50% long-term control. Of interest, only one of the dogs died of metastatic disease, and four of the long-term survivors showed a vitiligo-like discoloration at the site of treatment, potentially suggesting a recruitment of the immune system by the therapy. Further studies are needed to characterize this approach and to determine its suitability for head and neck mucosal melanoma.
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is one of the most common skin tumors in cats due to chronic exposure to ultraviolet light. Local treatments such as electrochemotherapy (ECT) promote disease ...control or even complete remission. We hypothesize that cats could benefit from treatments using bleomycin at reduced dosages. A prospective nonrandomized single-blind study evaluated the clinical parameters, site lesion, staging, disease-free interval (DFI) and survival time by comparing the standard dose of bleomycin (15,000 UI/m
) (n = 22) with a reduced dose (10,000 UI/m
) (n = 34) in cats with cSCC that underwent ECT as the sole treatment modality. No statistically significant difference in DFI or overall survival was observed between the 2 groups. A higher DFI was found in cats with a small tumor size (less than 0.33 cm
) compared with that for cats with a large tumor size (P = 0.045). Furthermore, a reduced overall survival time for cats with a higher stage in the standard group SG (T3 and T4) (P = 0.004) was observed when compared to that for cats with a lower stage (T1 and T2). In conclusion, ECT using both doses of bleomycin may achieve the same response rate in terms of the overall response, DFI, and overall survival.
Cell cycle progression is mediated by a group of proteins named cyclins that activate a highly conserved family of protein kinases, the cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). CDKs are also regulated by ...related proteins called cdk inhibitors, grouped into two families: the INK4 inhibitors (p16, p15, p19 and p18) and the Cip/Kip inhibitors (p21, p27). Moreover, several tumour suppressor genes (such as Retinoblastoma gene and p53 gene) are implicated in the regulation of the molecular mechanism of cell division. Several studies report the importance of cell cycle regulator proteins in the pathogenesis and the prognosis of mesothelioma. This article will review the most recent data from the literature about the expression and the diagnostic and prognostic significance of cell cycle molecules in mesothelioma.
Cox and mesothelioma: an overview Cardillo, I; Spugnini, E P; Verdina, A ...
Histology and histopathology,
10/2005, Letnik:
20, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Cyclooxygenases catalyze the rate limiting step in the production of prostanoids. Accumulating data demonstrate that overexpression of these enzymes, and in particular of cyclooxygenases-2, promotes ...multiple events involved in tumorigenesis; in addition, numerous studies show that inhibition of cyclooxygenases-2 can delay or prevent certain forms of cancer. Malignant mesothelioma is a lethal pleural, peritoneal and pericardial neoplasia that actually lacks valid therapies and in which cyclooxygenases-2 is recognized as an important adverse prognostic factor. Hence, there is an increasing interest in the development of new treatments based on cyclooxygenases-2 inhibitors, to prolong survival and even potentially cure this neoplasia.
PRIMARY IRRADIATION OF CANINE INTRACRANIAL MASSES Spugnini, Enrico P.; Thrall, Donald E.; Price, G. Sylvester ...
Veterinary radiology & ultrasound,
July 2000, Letnik:
41, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Twenty‐nine dogs received primary radiation therapy for intracranial lesions and clinical signs suggestive of neoplasia. Presumptive diagnosis and tumor categorization was based on computed ...toniographic or magnetic resonance images. Meningioma was the most likely tumor type in 22 dogs and glioma or choroid plexus tumors were tentatively identified in 4 and 3 dogs, respectively. Cobalt‐60 radiation was delivered in 3 Gy fractions on a daily, Monday‐through‐Friday basis for a total dose of 48 Gy (16 fractions) in 28 dogs; one dog received 54 Gy. Two of 29 dogs died during treatment of signs suggestive of progressive tumor growth but were included in the overall evaluation of response to treatment. Median overall survival was 250 days (range 21–804). Mild acute radiation effects on normal tissue developed and did not influence outcome in any dog. Late radiation effects could not be evaluated in this study. No significant predictive indicators were identified from the clinical or imaging data. Radiation therapy is superior to medical treatment of brain tumors in dogs with steroids, is useful for tumors that are not currently operable and may be preferable to surgical resection in dogs if the mass appears infiltrative. However, 22/29 (76%) dogs died of recurrent progressive neuropathy suggestive of tumor regrowth or progression. Thus, alternative methods for delivery of radiation to dogs with brain tumors or novel combinations of therapy should continue to undergo evaluation.
Extraskeletal osteosarcoma in a cat Spugnini, E P; Ruslander, D; Bartolazzi, A
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association,
2001-Jul-01, Letnik:
219, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
A 7-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat was referred for evaluation of a localized growing mass on the left flank. Cytologic and histologic findings suggested that the mass was an ...extraskeletal osteosarcoma. Radiography failed to reveal any association between the lesion and the axial or appendicular skeleton. Because of the large size of the tumor, the cat was treated with carboplatin prior to and after surgery (hemipelvectomy) to ensure that surgical margins were free of neoplastic cells and to prevent systemic dissemination of malignant cells. The tumor has not recurred during a 2-year follow-up period.
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