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Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of intracavitary carboplatin chemotherapy in cats with malignant pleural effusion of epithelial origin., Methods: The medical records of cats with a cytological diagnosis of neoplastic pleural effusion of epithelial origin were reviewed at three referral institutions between January 2013 and June 2018. Only cats treated with intracavitary carboplatin chemotherapy were enrolled. Data collection included signalment, medical history, clinical signs, pleural effusion analysis, diagnostic imaging findings, intracavitary carboplatin chemotherapy protocol, adverse events, response to chemotherapy, outcome and underlying primary tumour, if possible., Results: Eight cats met the inclusion criteria. Three cats had previous surgical removal of a tumour, including a poorly differentiated primary lung carcinoma, a uterine adenocarcinoma and a benign mammary tumour. The main clinical signs were tachypnoea and/or dyspnoea, inappetence and weight loss. Thoracic radiographs revealed marked bilateral pleural effusion in all cats. Pleural fluid analysis was consistent with a modified transudate, with malignant epithelial cells on cytology, leading to a diagnosis of pleural carcinomatosis. All cats received only one cycle of intracavitary carboplatin chemotherapy at a dose of 200-240 mg/m 2 . Recurrence of pleural effusion was reported in 7/8 cats within 4-15 days of chemotherapy, and death was recorded in all cats within 5-16 days, owing to recurrent pleural effusion or poor general condition. The primary cancer was suspected to be of pulmonary, mammary and pancreatic origin in four cats, two cats and one cat, respectively, and of unknown origin in the remaining cat., Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, intracavitary carboplatin chemotherapy seems ineffective in managing neoplastic pleural effusion of epithelial origin in cats with pleural carcinomatosis. Other cytotoxic drugs and/or techniques should be investigated in the future to improve the quality of life and survival of cats with pleural carcinomatosis.

Objectives: To retrospectively evaluate the clinical response and toxicity associated with masitinib mesylate (Masivet®) treatment of macroscopic mast cell tumours in the dog., Methods: Retrospective review of medical records of 39 dogs that had undergone treatment with masitinib for macroscopic mast cell tumours. Patient signalment, tumour location, tumour grade, tumour stage, previous treatments, concurrent medications, dose of masitinib, side effects, response, time to tumour progression, survival time and cause of death were documented. Response was assessed according to RECIST criteria., Results: Clinical response was observed in 32 (82·1%) dogs receiving masitinib, with 15 dogs (38·5%) exhibiting a complete response and 17 dogs (43·6%) achieving a partial response. The median time to progression was 79 days (range: 14 to 667 days). Adverse effects were seen in 25 dogs (64·1%) with serum alanine aminotransferase elevation (n=9; 23·1%) and vomiting (n=6; 15·4%) being most common. Median survival time following initiation of masitinib was 159 days (range: 14 to 1339)., Clinical Significance: Masitinib appears to be a well-tolerated and effective drug against macroscopic mast cell tumours., (© 2016 British Small Animal Veterinary Association.)

Carboplatin is usually a well-tolerated drug and has many applications in veterinary oncology. The side effects of carboplatin described in the veterinary literature include myelotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, digestive and appetite disorders. In 114 dogs treated by single-agent chemotherapy with carboplatin, we observed a rate of non-haematological toxicities of 19·3% (personal observation). This case report describes the first case of cutaneous delayed-hypersensitivity to carboplatin in a dog, diagnosed according to the official ABON-system, which determines a causal association between a suspected product and a reported reaction (A=probable, B=possible, O=unclassifiable and N=unlikely), and an experimental intradermal skin test. Antihistamines were used to treat the reaction, and future carboplatin treatments were adjusted by premedication with corticosteroids, prolonged infusion and a reduction of 20% of the first dose of carboplatin. No further reactions were noted during the following treatments., (© 2010 British Small Animal Veterinary Association.)

Vinblastine toxicity is poorly documented in dogs. The aim of this study was to investigate the haematological alterations in dogs treated with vinblastine and prednisolone. Fourteen dogs with mast cell tumours (MCT) were selected on at least one of the following criteria: lymph node infiltration, surgical margin infiltration, grade II MCTs with Ki-67 >10%, and grade III MCTs. Starting 15 days after surgery, the dogs were given vinblastine (2 mg/m2 i.v. four times weekly, then twice monthly for 2 months) and prednisolone (2 mg/kg/day p.o.). An EDTA blood sample was collected weekly for complete blood count (CBC). A total of 98 doses of vinblastine were given to the 14 dogs and 114 CBC were performed. Abnormal haematological findings were observed in 12 CBCs from five dogs, which represent a prevalence of 20% of the total CBCs performed in these animals. The most prevalent abnormal finding was thrombopenia (9/12) most often with grade I toxicity (6/9). In conclusion, the risk of occurrence of adverse haematological effects resulting from vinblastine–prednisolone treatment seems limited in dogs with MCT and it should not be overestimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]