Nimustine Treatment of 11 Cases of Canine Histiocytic Sarcoma

J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2020 May/Jun;56(3):146. doi: 10.5326/JAAHA-MS-6959. Epub 2020 Mar 17.

Abstract

The objective of this retrospective study was to report treatment outcomes in dogs with histiocytic sarcoma (HS) that were treated with nimustine (ACNU). This study evaluated data from 11 dogs including 5 with macroscopic tumors that were treated in the primary setting and 6 that underwent aggressive local therapy while being treated in the adjuvant setting. The median ACNU starting dose was 25 mg/m2 (range, 20-30 mg/m2; 3- to 5-wk intervals, 1-8 administrations). The median overall survival in the primary and adjuvant settings was 120 days (median progression-free survival [PFS], 63 days) and 400 days (median PFS, 212 days), respectively. Neutropenia was observed in eight cases (grade 1, n = 1; grade 2, n = 2; grade 3, n = 2; grade 4, n = 3) with nadir neutrophil count at 1 wk after ACNU administration. Mild gastrointestinal toxicity (grade 1-2) was observed in three cases. ACNU was well tolerated and showed a similar outcome to that seen for lomustine, which is a drug commonly used to treat canine HS, in terms of overall survival and PFS in the current study population. Further investigations will need to be undertaken to definitively determine if ACNU is an appropriate alternative to lomustine for the treatment of HS.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Dog Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Dogs
  • Female
  • Histiocytic Sarcoma / drug therapy
  • Histiocytic Sarcoma / mortality
  • Histiocytic Sarcoma / veterinary*
  • Male
  • Neutropenia / chemically induced
  • Neutropenia / veterinary
  • Nimustine / adverse effects
  • Nimustine / therapeutic use*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Analysis
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Nimustine