Open AccessTolerability of Gemcitabine and Carboplatin Doublet Therapy in Cats with Carcinomas
Author(s) -
MartinezRuzafa I.,
Dominguez P.A.,
Dervisis N.G.,
Sarbu L.,
Newman R.G.,
Cadile C.D.,
Kitchell B.E.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of veterinary internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.356
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1939-1676
pISSN - 0891-6640
DOI - 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2009.0279.x
Subject(s) - gemcitabine , medicine , carboplatin , cats , neutropenia , tolerability , gastroenterology , toxicity , cohort , chemotherapy , adverse effect , oncology , cisplatin
Background: This study was performed to determine the toxicity of gemcitabine‐carboplatin doublet therapy in cats with carcinomas. Hypothesis: Gemcitabine and carboplatin are safe in tumor‐bearing cats. Animals: Twenty cats with spontaneously occurring carcinomas. Methods: A cohort of 6 cats received gemcitabine (2 mg/kg IV) on days 1, 8, and 15 and carboplatin (10 mg/kg IV) immediately after gemcitabine on day 1 of a 21‐day cycle. A 2nd cohort of 14 cats received carboplatin 4 hours after gemcitabine on day 1 and gemcitabine on day 8 but not day 15. The cycles were repeated every 21 days. Results: Cats in the 1st cohort received a median of 3.75 cycles per animal (range, 1–6). Two cats (33.3%) developed grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, 1 (16.7%) grade 4 thrombocytopenia, and 1 (16.7%) grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicity. Gemcitabine dose reductions and treatment delays occurred in 1 and 4 cats, respectively. Cats in the 2nd cohort received a median of 2 cycles per animal (range, 0.5–10). Two cats (14.3%) had grade 3 or 4 neutropenia and 1 (7.1%) had grade 3 and 4 gastrointestinal toxicity. One cat required gemcitabine dose reduction and 6 had treatment delays. In the 2nd cohort, of 11 cats with measurable tumors, there was 1 complete response (pancreatic carcinoma) and 1 partial response (squamous cell carcinoma, receiving concurrent nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Gemcitabine‐carboplatin combination appears moderately well tolerated in tumor‐bearing cats. Minimal patient benefit suggests that alternative schedules or combinations of gemcitabine with other agents should be explored.