Veterinarian Seoul National University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Republic of Korea
Abstract:
Background: Idarubicin has been widely used in conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) in human patients due to its lipophilic properties. Though, there is lack of clinical study of cTACE using idarubicin in dogs.
Hypothesis/
Objectives: To investigate the safety and tumor response of cTACE using idarubicin in dogs with hepatic carcinomas.
Animals: Nine dogs diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (n=8) and cholangiocarcinoma (n=1) via cytologic or histologic examination.
Methods: A retrospective review of medical records that underwent cTACE using idarubicin. Data that extracted from the medical records included signalment, clinical signs, body weight, serum biochemistry, pre- and post-treatment (4 to 6 weeks) CT images, complications.
Results: Initial cTACE was technically successful in all dogs. Mild post-embolization syndrome including anorexia (n=5), lethargy (n=2), abdominal pain (n=5), fever (n=1) was seen. There was no major complication such as hepatic abscess, cholecystitis. After treatment, clinical signs were improved, including loss of ascites (n=1), increased body weight (n=3) and appetite (n=4). Serum biochemistry after 4 weeks revealed significantly decrease in ALT and AST levels (p< 0.05) compared to initial treatment. Based on elliptical tumor volume calculation, partial response (n=7, decreased by average of 51.4%) was the most common outcome, followed by stable disease (n=1), and progressive disease (n=1).
Conclusions: Hepatic cTACE using idarubicin is feasible procedure with limited side effects for hepatic cancers. Alleviation of the clinical signs and tumor regression were seen in most patient.
