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Canine oral malignant melanoma is locally invasive and highly metastatic. At present, the best option for local control is en bloc excision followed by radiation if excision margins are incomplete. Adjuvantly, the role of chemotherapy is dubious while immunotherapy appears encouraging. This retrospective study evaluated 155 dogs with oral malignant melanomas (24 stage I, 54 stage II, 66 stage III and 11 stage IV) managed in a single institution. The aim was to evaluate the differences in median survival time (MST) and disease-free interval (DFI) between dogs which, at presentation, were treated surgically with a curative intent (group 1) vs those marginally excised only (group 2). MST in group 1 was longer than in group 2 (594 vs 458 days), but no significant difference was found (P = .57); a statistical difference was, however, found for DFI (232 vs 183 days, P = .008). In the subpopulation of vaccinated dogs, the impact of adjuvant anti-CSPG4 DNA electrovaccination was then evaluated (curative intent, group 3, vs marginal, group 4); a significant difference for both MST (1333 vs 470 days, respectively, P = .03) and DFI (324 vs 184 days, respectively, P = .008) was found. Progressive disease was significantly more common in dogs undergoing marginal excision than curative intent excision for both the overall population (P = .03) and the vaccinated dogs (P = .02). This study pointed out that, after staging, wide excision together with adjuvant immunotherapy was an effective approach for canine oral malignant melanoma.

Background: Osteosarcoma (OSA) is a highly metastatic pediatric bone tumor. Adjuvant chemotherapy and surgical resection represent standard treatments; however, the prognosis is still poor. Effective strategies are urgently needed. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG)4 is a transmembrane proteoglycan with a low expression in normal tissues but high expression in several solid tumors, where it plays a central tumorigenic role. Therefore, it represents a promising therapeutic target. The high homology between human and canine CSPG4 and the recognized translational power of canine tumors as preclinical models for human malignancies prompted us to evaluate CSPG4 expression and the consequences of its immune-targeting for both human and canine OSA treatment. Methods: We analyzed CSPG4 overexpression in human and canine OSA samples and its significance for the survival of OSA patients. We exploited functional in vitro experiments to assess the antitumor potential of CSPG4 immune-targeting. Results: CSPG4 is overexpressed in OSA and has possible clinical implications as suggested by an evident correlation between CSPG4 overexpression and a shorter survival for both OSA-affected humans and dogs. The potential of CSPG4 immune-targeting for OSA treatment came from the ability of anti-CSPG4 monoclonal antibodies and sera, derived from human-CSPG4-DNA vaccinated canine patients, to significantly inhibit human and canine CSPG4-positive OSA cell proliferation, migration, and osteospheres generation. Moreover, CSPG4 immune-targeting has been shown to potentiate the effect of doxorubicin. Conclusions: Overall, these results provide the rationale to investigate the CSPG4 immune-targeting as a promising weapon for the treatment of CSPG4-positive OSA canine patients, to be successfully translated to a human setting.

Objective To describe the surgical treatment and outcome of a large cohort of dogs with sterile prostatic cysts (PCs). Study Design Retrospective study. Animals Forty‐four client‐owned dogs. Methods Dogs with sterile PCs with at least 6 months of follow‐up were included. Clinical variables, type of surgery, complications, recurrences, and outcomes (telephonic interviews or rechecks) were recorded. Results Extra‐ and intraparenchymal cysts were diagnosed in 29 and 11 dogs, respectively. Four dogs had both types. Extraparenchymal cysts were treated by partial resection and omentalization (n = 22) and complete resection (n = 7). Drainage and intracapsular omentalization were performed in all dogs with intraparenchymal cysts. The four dogs with both types of cyst were treated by omentalization. Resolution was documented in 39/44 dogs (88.6%). Intraoperative complications occurred in one dog (urethral tear). Major complications resulting in death occurred in three dogs (oliguric kidney injury, cardiac arrhythmia, and persisting urinary tract obstruction). Minor complications (n = 10) consisted of temporary urinary incontinence (n = 2), permanent urinary incontinence (n = 5), urinary retention (n = 2), and dysuria (n = 1). Recurrence occurred in two dogs with extraparenchymal cysts. Median long‐term follow‐up was 528 days (range, 250–730 days). Thirty‐nine dogs had no signs associated with prostatic disease at long‐term follow‐up. Conclusion Partial or complete resection and/or omentalization of sterile PCs led to resolution of clinical signs in most dogs, although postoperative urinary incontinence was frequent. Impact This study is the largest case series relative to canine sterile PCs treated surgically and provides evidence on the prognosis and rate of complications.