Canine mast cell tumours: decision‐making and treatment

Abstract

Mast cell tumours (MCTs) are common tumours in dogs. They mainly affect the skin, although they can affect other tissues and organs. In recent years, there have been significant advances in predicting skin MCT behaviour and treatment, including the licensing of two tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the treatment of this condition. This article focuses on skin (cutaneous and subcutaneous) MCTs. It summarises current understanding of MCT behaviour, prognosis and treatment, with a particular focus on treatment decision-making. James Warland graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2009. He recently completed a ECVIM residency in small animal internal medicine at Cambridge. Valentina Brioschi qualified from the University of Milan in 2005.She is currently completing a three-year residency in small animal surgery at Cambridge university.

Clinical, histological, immunohistochemical and genetic factors associated with measurable response of high‑risk canine mast cell tumours to tyrosine kinase inhibitors

“…Mast cell tumour (MCT) is the most common cutaneous malignancy in dogs ( 1 ). In view of the wide variation in its biological behaviour, many prognostic factors have been proposed and evaluated in an attempt to improve decision making in the management of this neoplasm ( 2 – 4 ). Among the therapeutic approaches, surgery stands out as the optimal treatment offering the highest rate of cure for most low to intermediate grade MCTs ( 1 , 3 , 5 ).…”

Molecular Mechanisms of Canine Cancers

“…Aggressive surgical removal of the mast cell tumor and surrounding tissue is generally the treatment of choice [20,21] might be highly effective. Radiation therapy might be highly effective as well as multimodality therapy.…”

“…Radiation therapy might be highly effective as well as multimodality therapy. Several different drugs can be used to treat these high-risk patients, including high doses of steroids, traditional chemotherapy (vinblastine, lomustine) or RTK-inhibitors (Palladia, Kinavet) [21]. In some cases, oral toceranib phosphate (Palladia, SU11654) administration applied [22].…”

A literature review on the welfare implications of gonadectomy of dogs

“…8,27,78,83,84 Patient prognosis differs and is dependent on multiple factors, including histologic grade, tumor location, breed, and clinical stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis. 16,[84][85][86][87][88] Although there is no apparent sex predilection, there is evidence that spayed females may have a higher relative risk of developing a mast cell tumor, compared with the likelihood for their sexually intact counterparts. 8,11,83,87 Investigators of a study 8 of dogs examined at the Animal Medical Center in New York reported an OR of 4.11 for spayed females to develop mast cell tumors, compared with the likelihood for sexually intact bitches, although the age at gonadectomy was unknown for that study.…”