Treatment of an aneurysmal bone cyst in a young dog: A case report

Background: An aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a rare benign lytic lesion affecting the medullary canal of long bones. It has been widely reported in human medicine, but rarely described in domestic animals. Objective: To report the surgical treatment and long term follow-up of a dog affected by ABC. Methods: An 8-month-old, intact female Weimaraner was presented with lameness affecting the left front limb and progressive swelling of the mid-distal radius. Survey radiographs revealed a mid-distal diaphyseal radial lesion. Fine needle aspirates, biopsy, CT scan and histopathology results supported the diagnosis of ABC. Treatment consisted of partial corticotomy of the affected radius, filling of the cystic cavity with demineralised bone matrix and autologous bone graft and stabilisation using lag screws and a neutralisation plate. Results: The long-term follow-up, at 36 post-operative months, showed no recurrence of the cyst and bone modelling. Comparing preoperative radiographs with those at 36 months, bone modelling reduced the radial area by 23.3% in the craniocaudal radiographic view and 30% in the mediolateral projection. Conclusions: This treatment was sucessful in the case here described, with a 3 years follow-up

Canine Melanoma Immunology and Immunotherapy: Relevance of Translational Research

In veterinary oncology, canine melanoma is still a fatal disease for which innovative and long-lasting curative treatments are urgently required. Considering the similarities between canine and human melanoma and the clinical revolution that immunotherapy has instigated in the treatment of human melanoma patients, special attention must be paid to advancements in tumor immunology research in the veterinary field. Herein, we aim to discuss the most relevant knowledge on the immune landscape of canine melanoma and the most promising immunotherapeutic approaches under investigation. Particular attention will be dedicated to anti-cancer vaccination, and, especially, to the encouraging clinical results that we have obtained with DNA vaccines directed against chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4 (CSPG4), which is an appealing tumor-associated antigen with a key oncogenic role in both canine and human melanoma. In parallel with advances in therapeutic options, progress in the identification of easily accessible biomarkers to improve the diagnosis and the prognosis of melanoma should be sought, with circulating small extracellular vesicles emerging as strategically relevant players. Translational advances in melanoma management, whether achieved in the human or veterinary fields, may drive improvements with mutual clinical benefits for both human and canine patients; this is where the strength of comparative oncology lies

The Italian-Canine Cancer (ICC) Biobank: our 10-year challenge

none10nononeAresu L.; Buracco P.; De Maria R.; Iussich S.; Martano M.; Morello E.; Bettini G.; Comazzi S.; Riondato F.; Marconato L.Aresu L.; Buracco P.; De Maria R.; Iussich S.; Martano M.; Morello E.; Bettini G.; Comazzi S.; Riondato F.; Marconato L

Prognostic impact of bone invasion in canine oral malignant melanoma treated by surgery and anti-CSPG4 vaccination: A retrospective study on 68 cases (2010–2020)

Prognosis of canine oral malignant melanoma encompasses clinical, histological and immunohistochemical parameters. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of bone invasion in oral canine melanoma. Sixty‐eight dogs bearing oral melanoma staged II and III that underwent surgery and anti‐CSPG4 electrovaccination, with available histological data and a minimum follow up of minimum 1 year, were retrospectively selected. Bone invasion was detected on imaging and/or histology. Median survival time of dogs with evidence of bone invasion (group 1) was 397 days and significantly shorter compared with dogs with oral melanomas not invading the bone (group 2, 1063 days). Dogs with tumours localised at the level of the cheek, lip, tongue and soft palate (soft tissue ‐ group 3) lived significantly longer compared with dogs having tumours within the gingiva of the maxilla or mandible (hard tissue ‐ group 4) with a median survival time of 1063 and 470 days, respectively. Within group 4, the subgroup of dogs with tumours not invading the bone (group 5) showed a significant prolonged survival time (972 days) in comparison with dogs of group 1 (bone invasion group). Similar results were obtained for the disease‐free intervals amongst the different groups. Statistical analysis showed that Ki67 and mitotic count were correlated with shorter survival in patients of group 1 (with bone invasion). Bone invasion should always be assessed since it appears to be a negative prognostic factor

Timing of adjuvant chemotherapy after limb amputation and effect on outcome in dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma without distant metastases

Objective: To determine an optimal time interval between amputation and initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy (TIamp-chemo) in dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma without distant metastases and whether TIamp-chemo was associated with outcome. Animals: 168 client-owned dogs treated at 9 veterinary oncology centers. Procedures: Data were collected from the dogs' medical records concerning potential prognostic variables and outcomes. Dogs were grouped as to whether they received chemotherapy within 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 30, or > 30 days after amputation of the affected limb. Analyses were performed to identify variables associated with time to tumor progression and survival time after limb amputation and to determine an optimal TIamp-chemo. Results: Median TIamp-chemo was 14 days (range, 1 to 210 days). Median time to tumor progression for dogs with a TIamp-chemo ≤ 5 days (375 days; 95% CI, 162 to 588 days) was significantly longer than that for dogs with a TIamp-chemo > 5 days (202 days; 95% CI, 146 to 257 days). Median overall survival time for dogs with a TIamp-chemo ≤ 5 days (445 days; 95% CI, 345 to 545 days) was significantly longer than that for dogs with a TIamp-chemo > 5 days (239 days; 95% CI, 186 to 291 days). Conclusions and clinical relevance: Findings indicated that early (within 5 days) initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy after limb amputation was associated with a significant and clinically relevant survival benefit for dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma without distant metastases. These results suggested that the timing of chemotherapy may be an important prognostic variabl

Prolongation of survival of dogs with oral malignant melanoma treated by en bloc surgical resection and adjuvant CSPG4-antigen electrovaccination

Reported post-surgery 1-year survival rate for oral canine malignant melanoma (cMM) is around 30%; novel treatments are needed as the role of adjuvant chemotherapy is unclear. This prospective study regards adjuvant electrovaccination with human chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan-4 (hCSPG4)-encoded plasmid in 23 dogs with resected II/III-staged CSPG4-positive oral cMM compared with 19 dogs with resected only II/III-staged CSPG4-positive oral cMM. Vaccination resulted in 6-, 12-, 18- and 24-month survival rate of 95.6, 73.9, 47.8 and 30.4%, respectively [median survival time (MST) 684 days, range 78–1694, 8 of 23 dogs alive] and 6-, 12-, 18- and 24-month disease-free interval (DFI) rate of 82.6, 47.8, 26.1 and 17.4%, respectively (DFI 477 days, range 50–1694). Non-vaccinated dogs showed 6-, 12-, 18- and 24-month survival rate of 63.2, 26.3, 15.8 and 5.3%, respectively (MST 200 days, range 75–1507, 1 of 19 dogs alive) and 6-, 12-, 18- and 24-month DFI rate of 52.6, 26.3, 10.5 and 5.3%, respectively (DFI 180 days, range 38–1250). Overall survival and DFI of vaccinated dogs was longer in those <20 kg. In vaccinated and non-vaccinated dogs local recurrence rate was 34.8 and 42%, respectively while lung metastatic rate was 39 and 79%, respectively