Background: Sequential half-body irradiation (HBI) combined with chemotherapy is feasible in treating canine lymphoma, but prolonged interradiation intervals may affect efficacy. A 2-week interradiation interval is possible in most dogs receiving low-dose rate irradiation (LDRI) protocols at 6 Gy dose levels.
Hypothesis: LDRI incorporated into a cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincritine, and prednisone (CHOP)-based chemotherapy protocol is effective for the treatment of lymphoma in dogs.
Animals: Thirty-eight client-owned animals diagnosed with multicentric lymphoma.
Methods: Retrospective study evaluating the efficacy and prognostic factors for the treatment of canine lymphoma with sequential HBI and chemotherapy.
Results: The median 1st remission was 410 days (95% confidence interval [CI] 241-803 days). The 1-, 2-, and 3-year 1st remission rates were 54, 42, and 31%. The median overall survival was 684 days (95% CI 334-1,223 days). The 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 66, 47, and 44%.
Conclusions and clinical relevance: Results of this study suggest that treatment intensification by a 2-week interradiation treatment interval coupled with interradiation chemotherapy is an effective treatment for dogs with lymphoma.