Combination vinblastine, prednisolone and toceranib phosphate for treatment of grade II and III mast cell tumours in dogs

Abstract

This retrospective study evaluates the progression-free interval and survival outcomes of 40 canine (Canis familiaris) patients with Patnaik grade II and III mast cell tumours treated with combination vinblastine, prednisolone and toceranib phosphate from 2011 to 2015. Patients were subdivided into three groups; patients who received neoadjuvant therapy for poorly operable lesions, patients who received adjuvant therapy following surgical resection and patients being palliated for gross metastatic disease. Median survival time (MST) for the neoadjuvant group was not reached. Median survival time for the remaining groups was 893 days and 218 days, respectively. This combination demonstrated response in 90% (26/29) patients with measurable disease. The predominant side effects related to this chemotherapy combination were gastrointestinal in origin. Further prospective studies are required to further validate the efficacy of this treatment protocol.

Keywords: canine; chemotherapy; mast cell tumour; tyrosine kinase inhibitors; vinblastine.

Figure 1

Kaplan–Meier curve for survival time. Group 1 (neoadjuvant chemotherapy) is depicted using a dot‐dash line, group 2 (adjuvant chemotherapy) is depicted using a dashed line and group 3 (palliative chemotherapy) is depicted using a dotted line. Time of censorship of a patient is depicted with a cross.

Figure 2

Kaplan–Meier curve for progression free interval. Group 1 (neoadjuvant chemotherapy) is depicted using a dot‐dash line, group 2 (adjuvant chemotherapy) is depicted using a dashed line and group 3 (palliative chemotherapy) is depicted using a dotted line. Time of censorship of a patient is depicted with a cross.