Retrospective Evaluation of Melphalan, Vincristine, and Cytarabine Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Relapsed Canine Lymphoma

Abstract

ABSTRACT Dogs diagnosed with multicentric lymphoma often relapse following induction therapy within the first year of treatment. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the tolerability of a novel drug combination using melphalan, vincristine, and cytarabine (MOC) for the treatment of relapsed lymphoma. On day 1, dogs were treated with vincristine (0.5–0.6 mg/m2 IV) and cytarabine (300 mg/m2 IV over 4–6 hr or subcutaneously over 2 days). On day 7, dogs were treated with melphalan (20 mg/m2per os). This 2 wk protocol was repeated for at least three cycles or until treatment failure. Twenty-six dogs were treated with MOC and met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-three dogs had toxicity data, and all experienced adverse events with the majority graded as mild. The overall response rate was 38%, which included 19% of dogs who achieved a complete response. The median progression-free survival was 29 days (range 1–280 days). The overall clinical benefit was 65% for a median of 37 days (range 33–280 days). MOC is a safe treatment option for relapsed lymphoma in dogs.