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Multicenter Study
. 2021 Jun;23(6):549-556.
doi: 10.1177/1098612X20964416. Epub 2020 Oct 20.

Metastatic feline mammary cancer: prognostic factors, outcome and comparison of different treatment modalities - a retrospective multicentre study

Gonçalo Petrucci  1 , Joaquim Henriques  2 , Hugo Gregório  3 , Gonçalo Vicente  4 , Justina Prada  5 , Isabel Pires  5 , Luís Lobo  1   6   7 , Rui Medeiros  8 , Felisbina Queiroga  7   9
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Metastatic feline mammary cancer: prognostic factors, outcome and comparison of different treatment modalities - a retrospective multicentre study

Gonçalo Petrucci et al. J Feline Med Surg. 2021 Jun.

Erratum in

Abstract

Objectives: Although feline mammary carcinomas (FMCs) are highly metastatic, the literature and treatment options pertaining to advanced tumours are scarce. This study aimed to investigate the clinical outcome of metastatic FMC with or without adjuvant treatment.

Methods: The medical records of 73 cats with metastatic FMC (stage IV) were reviewed and included in this study. Metastatic disease was detected by distinct imaging techniques (radiography, ultrasound and CT) and confirmed by cytology and/or histopathology. Cats with adjuvant chemotherapy treatment (n = 34) were divided into three groups: group 1 (n = 9) cats receiving maximum tolerated dose chemotherapy; group 2 (n = 15) cats receiving metronomic chemotherapy; and group 3 (n = 10) cats treated with toceranib phosphate. The study endpoints were time to progression (TTP) and tumour-specific survival (TSS). Treatment-related toxicity was evaluated according to the Veterinary Co-operative Oncology Group's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 1.1 (VCOG-CTCAE).

Results: Overall mean TTP and TSS were 23 and 44 days, respectively. Cats with clinical signs at the time of diagnosis had a lower TSS (14 days) than asymptomatic cats (128 days; P <0.001). Cats with pleural effusion had a lower TSS (16 days) than cats without (P <0.001). Median TSS was 58, 75 and 63 days in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively (P = 0.197). Toxicity was observed in 66.7%, 20% and 30% of cats in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively.

Conclusions and relevance: To the best of our knowledge, this study includes the highest number of patients with metastatic FMC assessed. Despite the overall poor prognosis, some cats survived >6 months, indicating that adjuvant treatment may be an option to consider in metastatic disease. More studies are warranted for better understanding and management of stage IV patients.

Keywords: Metastatic mammary tumour; de novo metastatic; meloxicam; metronomic chemotherapy; toceranib phosphate.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Kaplan–Meier survival curve for tumour-specific survival (TSS) of cats with metastatic mammary tumours, according to treatment groups. Median TSS was 58 days, 75 days and 63 days for groups 1 (maximum tolerated dose), 2 (metronomic chemotherapy) and 3 (toceranib phosphate), respectively. Differences were not statistically significant (P = 0.197). Censored cats are indicated by tick marks
Figure 2
Figure 2
Kaplan–Meier survival curve for tumour-specific survival (TSS) of cats with metastatic mammary tumours, according to the presence of signs at diagnosis. Median TSS was 14 days for symptomatic cats and 128 days for asymptomatic cats. Differences were statistically significant (P <0.001). Censored cats are indicated by tick marks
Figure 3
Figure 3
Kaplan–Meier survival curve for tumour-specific survival (TSS) of cats with metastatic mammary tumours, according to presence of pleural effusion at diagnosis. Median TSS was 16 days for cats with pleural effusion and 64 days for cats without pleural effusion. Differences were statistically significant (P <0.001). Censored cats are indicated by tick marks
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