Pilot study evaluating the feasibility of stereotactic body radiation therapy for canine anal sac adenocarcinomas.

The use of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to treat many canine tumors is rapidly expanding. However, published studies are lacking regarding use of SBRT for management of canine anal sac adenocarcinoma (ASAC), primarily due to concerns regarding intolerable late effects. The objective of this retrospective, pilot study was to describe the efficacy and safety profile of coarse fractions administered with an SBRT regime to manage a group of dogs with ASAC. A total of 12 dogs with ASAC that received SBRT as a component of their treatment were sampled. Three patients had macroscopic primary tumors irradiated, while nine patients received SBRT following incomplete surgical resection. Seven patients also received metastatic regional lymph node irradiation. Primary tumor and nodal irradiation sites received three fractions totaling 22-24 Gy and 22.5-24 Gy, respectively, over three consecutive days. All patients developed acute effects including mild colitis, alopecia, and erythema. Late effects included alopecia, variable dermal pigmentation and leuko- or melanotrichia within radiation fields, and rectal stricture in one patient. A median progression free survival time of 549 days and median survival time of 991 days were achieved in this study. These results should be considered preliminary data suggesting that coarse fractionation administered with an SBRT technique is a safe and effective treatment regime for the management of canine ASAC, with the aim to conduct prospective studies in the future.

Pilot study evaluating stereotactic body radiation therapy for feline facial squamous cell carcinomas.

OBJECTIVES: The use of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has not been assessed in advanced-stage feline solar-induced facial squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). The objective of this study was to provide preliminary data on the use and safety profile of coarse fractions administered with an SBRT regime to manage advanced-stage feline solar-induced facial SCCs. METHODS: This retrospective study assessed five cats diagnosed with advanced-stage solar-induced facial SCCs that received SBRT as their primary treatment or, in one cat, following failed surgical intervention. Tumour sites received three fractions totalling 26.25-27 Gy over a 3-5-day period. RESULTS: All patients developed acute effects following SBRT including alopecia, epilation and erythema. Late effects were mild and included alopecia, variable pigmentation and leukotrichia within radiation fields. All patients were alive at the time of article submission, with overall survival times ranging from 118 to 991 days. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The results suggest that coarse fractions administered with an SBRT technique is a safe and effective treatment tool for the management of advanced-stage feline solar-induced facial SCCs. These data provide preliminary evidence to support larger, prospective studies evaluating the management of feline facial SCCs with SBRT.