Autologous peripheral blood hematopoietic cell transplantation in dogs with T-cell lymphoma

Abstract

Background: Peripheral blood hematopoietic cell transplantation (PBHCT) is a feasible treatment option for dogs with B-cell lymphoma.

Objective: To examine apheresis and PBHCT outcomes in dogs diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma (TCL).

Animals: Fifteen client-owned dogs diagnosed with high-grade TCL.

Methods: After high-dose cyclophosphamide and rhG-colony-stimulating (rhG-CSF) factor treatment, peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected using cell separators. The harvested cells then were infused after varying doses of total body irradiation (TBI). Postirradiation adverse effects were managed symptomatically and dogs were discharged upon evidence of hematopoietic engraftment.

Results: More than 2 × 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg were harvested from 15/15 dogs. Thirteen of 15 (87%) dogs engrafted appropriately, whereas 2 (13%) of the dogs died in the hospital. One dog developed cutaneous B-cell lymphoma 120 days post-PBHCT. The median disease-free interval and overall survival (OS) of the 13 dogs transplanted in first remission from the time of PBHCT were 184 and 240 days, respectively. Stage and substage of disease at diagnosis had no effect on OS. Two of 13 (15%) dogs were alive 741 and 772 days post-PBHCT.

Conclusions and clinical importance: PBHCT may be considered as a treatment option for dogs with TCL.

Keywords: Apheresis; Bone marrow transplantation; CD34+; Engraftment; Total body irradiation.

Figure 1

Correlation between preapheresis blood cell parameters and harvest outcomes. (A) Linear regression analysis did not show a correlation in TCL dogs between preapheresis Hct and MCCE (R ² = 0.1280, P = .2091) or (C) preapheresis mononuclear cell counts and the number of CD34+ cells/kg harvested (R ² = 0.00385, P = .9516). (B) Linear regression analysis did show a correlation between preapheresis Hct and MCCE (R ² = 0.2021, P = .0127) and (D) preapheresis mononuclear cell counts and the number of CD34+ cells/kg harvested (R ² = 0.2119, P = .0105) when TCL and BCL 10 cases were combined.

Figure 2

(A) Disease‐free interval of TCL and (B) TCL and BCL 10 (P = .0704) cases combined. (C) Overall survival of TCL and (D) TCL and BCL 10 (P = .0551) cases combined.