Outcome of neoadiuvant and adiuvant chemotherapy with doxorubicin versus surgery alone in the treatment of feline associated sarcomas : a retrospective study of 37 cases

OUTCOME OF NEOADJUVANT AND ADJUVANT CHEMOTHERAPY WITH DOXORUBICIN VERSUS SURGERY ALONE IN THE TREATMENT OF FELINE ASSOCIATED SARCOMAS: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF 37 CASES D Stefanello1, M Cantatore1, M Digiancamillo1, V Grieco2, E Riccardi2, O Travetti, V Fiorbianco1, V Bronzo2, S Romussi1 1 Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Veterinarie, Università di Milano 2 Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, Igiene e Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria, Università di Milano E-mail address: damiano.stefanello@unimi.it Introduction: Feline Vaccine-Associated Sarcomas (FVAS) are mesenchimal neoplasms whose treatment is still unrewarding. Wide surgery with megavoltage radiotheraphy is considered the gold standard treatment in FVAS. Radiotheraphy units are not available for veterinary patients in Italy, moreover the usefulness of chemotherapy as an adiuvant tool is far to be proven. The aim of this retrospective study is to compare clinical outcome of cats treated with wide surgery alone or in combination with two different doxorubicin-based chemotherapy protocols. Methods: The medical records of cats with histologically confirmed diagnosis of FVAS were reviewed. Feline patients were enrolled in three different treatment groups. Group A: doxorubicin (1mg/Kg every three weeks) twice before and twice after wide surgery; group B: four doxorubicin cycles after wide surgery (1mg/Kg every three weeks); group C: wide surgery alone. In each group the frequence of local recurrence (χ2test p< 0.05) and the disease free interval (DFI) for not censored data (Kaplan-Meier and log-rank-test p<0.05) has been evaluated. Results: The median follow up was 501 days. The recurrence rate was calculated in 50% in group A, 20% in group B and 29% group C. The median DFI was 476 days in group A and was not reached in group B and C but ranged from 40 to 476 days. No statistically significant differences were not found between the groups. Conclusion. Adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy did not seem to influence the DFI. Further studies are needed to definetivily delineate the therapeutic role of doxorubicin in FVAS.