Clinical utility of a life quality score in dogs with canine transmissible venereal tumor treated by vincristine chemotherapy

Abstract

The clinical utility of a life quality score during vincristine chemotherapy of dogs with canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT) was investigated using 93 tumor-bearing dogs in this prospective study. At diagnosis, clinical data and the performance status were evaluated according to a modified Karnofsky score (CKS) adapted for dogs. The animals were treated with vincristine sulphate (0.025mg/kg) at weekly intervals until the tumor had macroscopically disappeared. The time until the first adverse event and death were recorded. In a pilot study, CKS revealed a high inter-observer concordance (kappa=0.735; weighted kappa=0.835). CKS permitted a detailed monitoring of adverse effects during therapy. Cox regressions showed that low performance score and reduced body weight were independent predictive factors for death during chemotherapy. The modified Karnofsky performance score is a simple and reproducible clinical instrument, able to estimate patient outcome after treatment of CTVT.Keywords: canine transmissible venereal tumor, vincristine, survival, performance score, quality of life RESUMO Investigou-se a utilidade clínica de uma escala de qualidade de vida durante o tratamento quimioterápico de cães com tumor venéreo transmissível canino (TVTC) em 93 animais com TVTC que compuseram este estudo prospectivo. Ao diagnóstico, foram avaliados os dados clínicos e o escore de qualidade de vida adaptado para cães (CKS). Os animais foram tratados

Development and Evaluation of a Caregiver Reported Quality of Life Assessment Instrument in Dogs With Intracranial Disease

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Safety and feasibility of the NanoKnife system for irreversible electroporation ablative treatment of canine spontaneous intracranial gliomas

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“…Safety was defined as the absence of severe clinical toxicity within 14 days of the IRE procedure. Severe clinical toxicity was defined by a ≥ 20-point decline in the Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score from the pretreatment value 47 or the development of Grade 3, 4, or 5 (severe, life-threatening, or fatal, respectively) adverse events, as classified and graded according to the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 3.0 (http://ctep.cancer.gov/protocolDevelopment/electronic_ applications/docs/ctcaev3.pdf). Secondary end points included direct toxicity evaluations determined from posttreatment imaging studies, including induction or exacerbation of brain edema, procedure-associated hemorrhage or infarction, or collateral damage to brain tissue outside of IRE-treated regions.…”

Frame-Based Stereotactic Biopsy of Canine Brain Masses: Technique and Clinical Results in 26 Cases

“…The medical record from each dog was reviewed and the following data recorded: signalment (breed, age, sex, body weight); historical clinical signs and neurological examination findings at admission; modified canine Karnofsky performance score (KPS) at admission ( 22 ); lesion laterality (side) and anatomic location within the brain; lesion volume as determined below; date the FBSB was performed; FBSB performed with intraoperative image guidance (yes/no); duration of the FBSB procedure, as determined from the time of initial patient arrival into the CT suite for the planning scan until completion of closure of the surgical wound; final histopathological diagnosis and, where applicable, tumor grade; number of brain biopsies attempted and number obtained; and the number of non-diagnostic biopsies in each patient.…”