Clinical outcomes of dogs with transitional cell carcinoma receiving medical therapy, with and without partial cystectomy.

The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the effects of surgery on outcome for dogs with naturally occurring urinary bladder transitional cell carcinoma. Forty-seven dogs met the inclusion criteria. Thirty-one dogs (Group A) were treated with partial cystectomy and adjunctive medical therapy and 16 dogs (Group B) were treated with medical therapy alone. Overall survival was greater in dogs treated with partial cystectomy and adjunctive medical therapy (498 days for Group A versus 335 days for Group B, hazard ratio 2.5; 95% confidence interval: 1.1 to 5.7; P = 0.026). Progression-free survival was not different between groups (85 days for Group A versus 83 days for Group B; P = 0.663). No prognostic factors were identified for progression-free survival. Due to the many cases in Group A that were lost to follow-up, time-to-event survival analysis was performed. No significant difference in overall survival was noted, and no prognostic factors were identified in the time-to-event analysis. Prospective, randomized studies are needed to determine the role of partial cystectomy in the treatment of transitional cell carcinoma.

Résultats cliniques des chiens atteints d'un carcinome à cellules transitionnelles recevant un traitement médical, avec et sans cystectomie partielle. L'objectif de cette étude rétrospective était d'évaluer les effets de la chirurgie sur les résultats chez des chiens atteints d'un carcinome à cellules transitionnelles de la vessie d'origine naturelle. Quarante-sept chiens répondaient aux critères d'inclusion. Trente et un chiens (Groupe A) ont été traités par cystectomie partielle et traitement médical d'appoint et 16 chiens (Groupe B) ont été traités par thérapie médicale seule. La survie globale était plus élevée chez les chiens traités par cystectomie partielle et traitement médical d'appoint (498 jours pour le Groupe A contre 335 jours pour le Groupe B, rapport de risque de 2,5; intervalle de confiance à 95 % : 1,1 à 5,7; P = 0,026). La survie sans progression n'était pas différente entre les groupes (85 jours pour le Groupe A contre 83 jours pour le Groupe B; P = 0,663). Aucun facteur pronostique n'a été identifié pour la survie sans progression. En raison des nombreux cas dans le Groupe A qui ont été perdus de vue lors du suivi, une analyse du temps de survie a été realisée. Aucune différence significative dans la survie globale n'a été notée et aucun facteur pronostique n'a été identifié dans l'analyse du temps de survive. Des études prospectives randomisées sont nécessaires pour déterminer le rôle de la cystectomie partielle dans le traitement du carcinome à cellules transitionnelles.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

Postsurgical Outcome in Cats with Exocrine Pancreatic Carcinoma: Nine Cases (2007-2016).

Feline exocrine pancreatic carcinoma has been reported to be an aggressive tumor with a high metastatic rate and poor prognosis. Studies reporting long-term outcome of cats after surgical removal of solitary pancreatic carcinomas are rare, due to the uncommon diagnosis and paucity of cats who undergo treatment. In this study, nine cases of feline exocrine pancreatic carcinoma from seven academic and private practice veterinary hospitals were reviewed to examine the outcome in cats undergoing surgical removal of the mass. The median postsurgical survival time for the nine cats was 316.5 days (range, 25-964 days), with three cats alive at a median follow-up time of 309 days. This study demonstrates that surgical removal of pancreatic exocrine tumors in cats with localized disease can result in survival times of over 300 days.

An asymmetric synthesis of 1,2,4-trioxane anticancer agents via desymmetrization of peroxyquinols through a Brønsted acid catalysis cascade.

The desymmetrization of p-peroxyquinols using a Brønsted acid-catalyzed acetalization/oxa-Michael cascade was achieved in high yields and selectivities for a variety of aliphatic and aryl aldehydes. Mechanistic studies suggest that the reaction proceeds through a dynamic kinetic resolution of the peroxy hemiacetal intermediate. The resulting 1,2,4-trioxane products were derivatized and show potent cancer cell-growth inhibition.

Early detection of neuropathophysiology using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in asymptomatic cats with feline immunodeficiency viral infection.

HIV infection results in a highly prevalent syndrome of cognitive and motor disorders designated as HIV-associated dementia (HAD). Neurologic dysfunction resembling HAD has been documented in cats infected with strain PPR of the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), whereas another highly pathogenic strain (C36) has not been known to cause neurologic signs. Animals experimentally infected with equivalent doses of FIV-C36 or FIV-PPR, and uninfected controls were evaluated by magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging (DW-MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) at 17.5-18 weeks post-infection, as part of a study of viral clade pathogenesis in FIV-infected cats. The goals of the MR imaging portion of the project were to determine whether this methodology was capable of detecting early neuropathophysiology in the absence of outward manifestation of neurological signs and to compare the MR imaging results for the two viral strains expected to have differing degrees of neurologic effects. We hypothesized that there would be increased diffusion, evidenced by the apparent diffusion coefficient as measured by DW-MRI, and altered metabolite ratios measured by MRS, in the brains of FIV-PPR-infected cats relative to C36-infected cats and uninfected controls. Increased apparent diffusion coefficients were seen in the white matter, gray matter, and basal ganglia of both the PPR and C36-infected (asymptomatic) cats. Thalamic MRS metabolite ratios did not differ between groups. The equivalently increased diffusion by DW-MRI suggests similar indirect neurotoxicity mechanisms for the two viral genotypes. DW-MRI is a sensitive tool to detect neuropathophysiological changes in vivo that could be useful during longitudinal studies of FIV.

Malignant melanoma in pleural effusion in a 14-year-old cat.

CASE DETAILS: A 14-year-old female cat presented with signs of respiratory distress. Pleural fluid was found on radiographic assessment. Cytologic evaluation of the fluid revealed malignant melanocytosis. The cat had a previous history of a recurrent malignant melanoma near the base of the right ear. Due to declining clinical condition, the cat was euthanized. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Cutaneous malignant melanomas (or melanosarcomas) are uncommon neoplasms in cats, and knowledge is limited. As far as the authors are aware, there are no previous reports in the veterinary literature of malignant melanocytes being identified in pleural effusion in cats, as they have in dogs. This report suggests that, despite conflicting information in the literature regarding the clinical behavior of cutaneous melanomas in cats, these tumors are capable of recurrence and metastasis. Aggressive treatment may be necessary even, as in this case, if the tumor is well differentiated on histopathology.

Pericardial free patch grafting as a rescue technique in surgical management of right atrial HSA.

A 7 yr old, neutered female vizsla underwent an exploratory thoracotomy after diagnosis of recurrent hemorrhagic pericardial effusion and a right auricular mass. Staging tests were negative for metastasis. The patient underwent a right, fourth intercostal thoracotomy, subtotal pericardectomy, right auricular mass excision, and pericardial free patch graft. The patient experienced blood loss during surgery, which required a packed red blood cell transfusion. The patient experienced transient arrhythmias postoperatively, but was discharged from the hospital 48 hr later. Histopathologic diagnosis of the mass was hemangiosarcoma. The patient was treated with carboplatin single-agent chemotherapy and palliative radiation therapy. The patient died at home, presumably from metastatic disease 260 days postoperatively. Surgical mass removal or debulking along with pericardial free patch grafting may be considered as palliative treatment options for dogs diagnosed with right auricular masses. In this case report, other techniques failed to repair the defect in the heart and a free patch graft offered a good rescue procedure with a favorable outcome without the need for inflow and outflow occlusion when used in conjunction with adjunctive therapies.

A novel technique for orchiectomy and scrotal ablation in the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps).

In this report, we describe a simple, safe, and efficacious technique for orchiectomy and scrotal ablation with the use of a carbon dioxide light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation (laser) in sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps). The study population included nine sugar gliders, ages 2-24 mo, presented for orchiectomy. After induction of general anesthesia, orchiectomy and scrotal ablation were performed by severing the scrotal stalk with the laser. All sugar gliders were discharged the same day. Mean anesthesia time was 6.09 +/- 0.94 min. Mean surgery time was 15.11 +/- 8.39 sec, and mean recovery time was 4.11 +/- 3.60 min. With an outlier removed, mean recovery time was 2.95 +/- 1.03 min. No serious postoperative surgical complications were observed. The technique described is a simple procedure with rapid surgical and recovery times that has the potential to become the standard procedure for orchiectomy and scrotal ablation in sugar gliders.