A retrospective analysis of radiation therapy for the treatment of feline vaccine-associated sarcoma†

  1. C. Eckstein1,*,
  2. F. Guscetti2,
  3. M. Roos3,
  4. J. Martín de las Mulas4,
  5. B. Kaser-Hotz1,
  6. C. Rohrer Bley1

Article first published online: 12 FEB 2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5829.2008.00173.x

Issue

Veterinary and Comparative Oncology

Veterinary and Comparative Oncology

Volume 7, Issue 1, pages 54–68, March 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Eckstein, C., Guscetti, F., Roos, M., Martín de las Mulas, J., Kaser-Hotz, B. and Rohrer Bley, C. (2009), A retrospective analysis of radiation therapy for the treatment of feline vaccine-associated sarcoma. Veterinary and Comparative Oncology, 7: 54–68. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5829.2008.00173.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Diagnostic Imaging and Radio-Oncology, Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

  2. 2

    Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

  3. 3

    Biostatistics Unit, Institute for Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

  4. 4

    Department of Comparative Pathology, Veterinary School, University of Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Córdoba, Spain

*C. Eckstein Diagnostic Imaging and Radio-Oncology Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 260 CH-8057 Zurich Switzerland e-mail: ceckstein@vetclinics.uzh.ch, crohrer@vetclinics.uzh.ch

  • †

    This study was conducted in the context of a doctoral thesis (C. E.).

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 12 FEB 2009
  2. Article first published online: 12 FEB 2009

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Keywords:

  • coarse fractionated radiotherapy;
  • curative radiotherapy;
  • feline vaccine-associated sarcoma;
  • Ki67 index

Abstract

We retrospectively evaluated predictive prognostic factors in 73 cats with vaccine-associated sarcoma given postsurgical curative (n = 46, most with clean margins) or coarse fractionated radiotherapy (n = 27, most with either macroscopic disease or dirty margins). The former animals displayed a median survival of 43 months and a median progression free interval (PFI) of 37 months, the latter reached a median survival of 24 months and a median PFI of 10 months. In cats undergoing coarse fractionated therapy, factors predictive of a better outcome included lack of visible mass (n = 10) as opposed to macroscopic disease (n = 17, survival: 30 versus 7 months, P = 0.025; PFI: 20 versus 4 months, P = 0.01), adjuvant chemotherapy for gross disease (n = 5/17, survival: 29 versus 5 months, P = 0.04) and a smaller number of surgeries preceding radiation therapy (coeff = 0.41, P = 0.03). The Ki67 index was not predictive for survival. We concluded that postsurgical curative and coarse fractionated radiotherapy are effective legitimate options for managing vaccine-associated sarcomas.

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