Survival time for dogs with previously untreated, peripheral nodal, intermediate- or large-cell lymphoma treated with prednisone alone: the Canine Lymphoma Steroid Only trial.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate survival times for dogs with previously untreated, peripheral nodal, intermediate- or large-cell lymphoma treated with prednisone alone.

ANIMALS:

109 client-owned dogs recruited from 15 institutions in the United States.

PROCEDURES:

Dogs were treated with prednisone at a dosage of 40 mg/m2, PO, once daily for 7 days and at a dosage of 20 mg/m2, PO, once daily thereafter. Quality of life (QOL) was assessed by owners with a visual analog scale when treatment was started (day 0), 1 and 2 weeks after treatment was started, and every 4 weeks thereafter. The primary outcome of interest was survival time as determined by the Kaplan-Meier method. Factors potentially associated with survival time were examined.

RESULTS:

Median overall survival time was 50 days (95% CI, 41 to 59 days). Factors associated with survival time included substage (a vs b) and immunophenotype (B cell vs T cell). Owner-assigned QOL scores on days 0 and 14 were significantly positively correlated with survival time. When QOL score was dichotomized, dogs with day 0 or day 14 QOL scores ≥ 50 had significantly longer survival times, compared with dogs with day 0 or day 14 QOL scores < 50. No variables were predictive of long-term (> 120 days) survival.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE:

Results suggested that survival times were short for dogs with previously untreated, peripheral nodal, intermediate- or large-cell lymphoma treated with prednisone alone. Owner-perceived QOL and clinician-assigned substage were both associated with survival time. Findings provide potentially important information for clinicians to discuss with owners of dogs with lymphoma at the time treatment decisions are made.

• Authors: Kenneth M Rassnick, Dennis B Bailey, Debra A Kamstock, Casey J LeBlanc, Erika P Berger, Andrea B Flory, Michael A Kiselow, Joanne L Intile, Erin K Malone, Rebecca C Regan, Margaret L Musser, Nathan Yanda, Chad M Johannes
• Journal: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (J Am Vet Med Assoc) Vol. 259 Issue 1 Pg. 62-71 (Jul 01 2021) ISSN: 1943-569X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 34125606 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Veterinary, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Cyclophosphamide
• Prednisone

Topics

• Animals
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
• Cyclophosphamide (therapeutic use)
• Dog Diseases (drug therapy)
• Dogs
• Lymphoma (drug therapy, veterinary)
• Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin (drug therapy, veterinary)
• Prednisone (therapeutic use)
• Quality of Life