Premium
Canine osteogenic sarcoma treated by amputation and MER: An adverse effect of splenectomy on survival
Author(s) -
Meyer John A.,
Dueland Rudolf T.,
MacEwen E. Gregory,
Macy Dennis W.,
Hoefle William D.,
Richardson Ralph C.,
Alexander Joseph W.,
Trotter Eric,
Hause Wayne R.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19820415)49:8<1613::aid-cncr2820490814>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - medicine , splenectomy , amputation , surgery , adjuvant , adverse effect , randomization , sarcoma , osteosarcoma , immune system , clinical trial , spleen , gastroenterology , randomized controlled trial , pathology , immunology
Canine and human osteogenic sarcomas, like most other malignant tumors, cause or are associated with progressive impairment of host immune reactivity. Adjuvant immunotherapy with live BCG had shown increased survival in one study of canine disease. Experiments with induced fibrosarcomas in mice had suggested that some of the host immune defect might be ameliorated by splenectomy. A prospective clinical trial was conducted with several cooperating veterinary centers. Dogs with osteosarcoma apparently confined to a limb were randomized to be treated by amputation and methanol‐extracted residue of BCG (MER), or by the same modalities plus splenectomy. Randomization was discontinued relatively early in the study because of higher mortality in the splenectomy group. Animals treated by amputation and MER could be compared only with historic controls; median and one‐year survival rates did not differ significantly from those of prior series. Animals treated by amputation, splenectomy, and MER had significantly poorer survival.