CCNU in the treatment of canine epitheliotropic lymphoma

J Vet Intern Med. 2006 Jan-Feb;20(1):136-43. doi: 10.1892/0891-6640(2006)20[136:cittoc]2.0.co;2.

Abstract

This retrospective study examined the use of CCNU (1-[2-chloroethyl]3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosurea) in 36 dogs with epitheliotropic lymphoma. Thirty-one (86%) dogs had the cutaneous form of disease, and 5 (14%) dogs had the oral form of disease. Nineteen (51%) dogs were treated with other chemotherapeutic agents before receiving CCNU. All dogs had detectable disease at the time CCNU therapy was initiated. Dogs received a median starting CCNU dosage of 70 mg/m2 (range, 50-100 mg/m2). The median number of treatments administered was 3 (range, 1-12 treatments). After the initial treatment, the CCNU dosage was adjusted in 9 of 26 (35%) dogs in which CCNU was continued: 7 had dosage reductions, and 2 had dosage escalations. Twenty-eight of 36 (78%) dogs had a measurable response to CCNU for a median duration of 106 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 75-182). Six dogs (17%) had a complete response, including 5 dogs with the cutaneous form and 1 dog with the oral form. Twenty-two dogs (61%) had a partial response, including 20 dogs with the cutaneous form and 2 dogs with the oral form, for a median duration of 88 days (95% CI, 62-170). Toxicoses after CCNU chemotherapy included myelosuppression in up to 29% of the dogs, gastrointestinal signs in up to 22% of the dogs, and liver enzyme activity increases in up to 86% of the dogs. This study demonstrates that CCNU chemotherapy can be considered a reasonable option for the treatment of canine epitheliotropic lymphoma in dogs.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / therapeutic use*
  • Dog Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Dogs
  • Female
  • Lomustine / adverse effects
  • Lomustine / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Mycosis Fungoides / drug therapy
  • Mycosis Fungoides / veterinary*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Skin Neoplasms / veterinary*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
  • Lomustine