A novel approach to treatment of lymphangiosarcoma in a boxer dog

Abstract

A five-year-old female boxer presented with a swelling in the area of the caudal mammary gland. The mass was surgically excised and histopathological examination revealed a poorly demarcated lesion, extending into mammary tissue and infiltrating the sinuses of adjacent lymph nodes. The diagnosis was lymphangiosarcoma. Full blood work, thoracic radiographs, abdominal and scar ultrasound were unremarkable, apart from possible inflammatory reactions in the latter and reactive/metastatic changes in inguinal lymph nodes. Doxorubicin treatment resulted in a 6-month recurrence free interval. At relapse, the dog was treated with metronomic chemotherapy using chlorambucil and meloxicam, which failed to adequately control the disease. Toceranib phosphate was introduced and resulted in almost complete regression of the mass, leaving just a skin plaque. To the authors' knowledge this is the first report describing the use of two novel therapeutic approaches to treat canine lymphangiosarcoma that resulted in a higher than previously described survival time.

Intradural–extramedullary haemangioblastoma with paraspinal extension in a dog

“…The positive effects of metronomic chemotherapy are well known in humans, resulting in a delay of tumour growth. This therapy has also recently been evaluated for the treatment of various types of tumours in dogs …”

Lymphangiosarcoma in 12 dogs: a case series (1998–2013)

“…Even with radical surgery, human survival is reported at 5–8 months . The disease progression in dogs differs where lymphoedema is either a sequelae of the development of a mass or a concurrent morbidity . An exception is noted in three reported cases in which oedema was observed 18 months, 36 months and 46 months prior to the development of a mass or the diagnosis of LAS.…”

“…It was first documented in a dog in 1981 . To date, 18 dogs have been reported in the literature with LAS ranging in age from 8 weeks to 13 years . Lymphangiosarcoma commonly presents in dogs as a subcutaneous mass or focal swelling.…”

“…Lesions have been reported in the cervical region and thoracic inlet, inguinal region, hind limb, axillary region and forelimb, thoracic cavity and mediastinum, thoracic subcutis, and retroperitoneal space with vaginal prolapse . Most reported cases occurred in large breed dogs including a Giant Schnauzer, Standard Poodle, Bouvier des Flandres, Golden Retriever, Doberman Pinscher, pointer, Chow Chow, Bullmastiff, Siberian husky, Boxer, and Chesapeake Bay retriever, and one occurred in a Toy Poodle . Most cases had a short clinical course once a diagnosis was made, and commonly had evidence of metastasis at the time of diagnosis …”

“…Although the clinical and pathologic course of LAS has been previously determined in dogs, to the authors' knowledge, only six case reports describe therapeutic intervention . Two of 5 dogs were euthanized within 8 weeks of receiving surgical treatment owing to progression of disease .…”