Efficacy of Doxorubicin in the Adjuvant Treatment of Canine Splenic Visceral Hemangiosarcoma

Introduction. Splenic hemangiosarcoma is a highly malignant neoplasm that affects geriatric patients. The incidence in dogs is 45–50% of all splenic tumours and about 2% of all oncological pathologies. The visceral form of splenic hemangiosarcoma is characterised by the most aggressive course of the disease and early metastasis to other organs. The average life expectancy of animals after splenectomy, according to various scientific data, is from 20 to 90 days. The article studies the efficacy of additional doxorubicin-based adjuvant chemotherapy to increase the life expectancy of dogs at different stages of the disease.

Materials and Methods. To compare the life expectancy, the patients were divided into 4 groups receiving different treatments for splenic hemangiosarcoma. Examination of patients, visual diagnostics and pathomorphological diagnostics were used for making a diagnosis, determining the stage of the disease and prescribing treatment. Treatment efficacy was assessed based on the median relapse-free period, median life expectancy and survival rate of patients after 3, 6, and 12 month periods. Statistical analysis was performed using the Fisher's exact test.

Results. The obtained data demonstrated a more favourable course of disease in dogs with the stage I tumour process. Splenectomy made it possible to increase the life expectancy of patients to 243 days with a 6–month survival rate in 62.5% of patients. Postoperative chemotherapy treatment combined with doxorubicin significantly improved the longterm prognosis and led to more than twofold increase in life expectancy of dogs (up to 475 days) with a one-year survival rate in 83.3% of patients. However, no substantial statistical significance was determined in the studied groups (p=0.7).

Discussion and Conclusion. The results of the research have revealed the efficacy of adjuvant doxorubicin-based chemotherapy in dogs with the visceral forms of splenic hemangiosarcoma. In animals with early stages of the disease, a significant increase in life expectancy has been discovered. The development of hemagdomain and/or the presence of metastasis to abdominal organs indicate the unfavourable course of the disease and, as a consequence, early metastasis. Nevertheless, even at these stages, doxorubicin can increase the life expectancy of patients.

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