Open AccessOutcomes of adjunctive radiation therapy for the treatment of mast cell tumors in dogs and assessment of toxicity: A multicenter observational study of 300 dogs
Author(s) -
Mason Sarah L.,
Pittaway Charles,
Gil Begona Pons,
Russak OnneMarju,
Westlake Katie,
Berlato Davide,
Benoit Jérôme,
Morris Joanna,
Dobson Jane Margaret
Publication year - 2021
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/jvim.16264
Subject(s) - medicine , radiation therapy , toxicity , regimen , adjunctive treatment , dose fractionation , retrospective cohort study , observational study , population , adverse effect , surgery , environmental health
Abstract Background Radiation therapy is commonly used as an adjunct to incomplete surgical excision in dogs with mast cell tumors (MCT), but the optimal dose and fractionation regimen have yet to be determined. Hypothesis We assessed outcomes (time to local recurrence, patient survival and toxicity) of a large population of dogs with MCT that received adjunctive radiation therapy. Animals Three hundred dogs with 302 MCT treated using adjunctive radiation therapy. Methods Retrospective observational study. Clinical records of 4 veterinary radiation centers were reviewed. Results Local recurrence rates were similar regardless of radiation protocol with 6.6% of patients developing recurrent cutaneous MCT at a median of 526 days. Local recurrence rate was similar between high and low‐risk MCT. Mast cell tumor related death was reported in 19% of all dogs, with 13% of dogs with low‐risk MCT dying of their disease compared to 29% of dogs with high‐risk MCT. No SC MCT (SCMCT) recurred after radiation therapy and only 7% of dogs with SCMCT were reported to have died of their disease. Mild late toxicity was common in both protocols and severe late toxicity occurred in 1.9% of dogs many years after treatment. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Our study supports the use of adjunctive radiation for the long‐term control of incompletely or narrowly excised cutaneous and SCMCT in dogs. More moderate dose and fractionation protocols may be appropriate in the adjunctive treatment of low‐risk MCT in dogs. Large multicenter prospective studies are required to establish the optimal dose and fractionation for MCT of different risk categories.