Carboplatin For Treatment Of Cancer in Cats

Kisseberth, W. C., D. M. Vail, et al. (2008). "Phase I clinical evaluation of carboplatin in tumor-bearing cats: a veterinary cooperative oncology group study." J Vet Intern Med 22(1): 83-8.


Carboplatin (Paraplatin, Bristol-Myers Squibb) is an alkylating agent widely used as chemotherapy for certain tumors in humans and dogs. In cats, only isolated case reports exist. Little investigation has been done to investigate the optimal dose and efficacy of this drug in cats with tumors. In this study, 59 cats with naturally occurring solid tumors were treated with carboplatin. Cats were enrolled in the study from several different institutions and had various tumor types, such as injection-site sarcomas and oral squamous cell sarcomas. The starting dose was 160 mg/m(2) of body surface area and the dose was increased in cohorts of cats until the maximally tolerated dose was determined. The maximally tolerated dose was 240 mg/m(2) and the dose limiting toxicity was neutropenia. The lowest neutrophil and platelet counts occurred 2 to 3 weeks after drug administration. There was no evidence of drug-induced kidney toxicity or pulmonary edema. There was one cat with complete response to treatment, and six cats with partial responses. The dose of carboplatin recommended by the researchers is 240 mg/m(2) IV every 3 to 4 weeks. Carboplatin appears to be safe and well tolerated in cats.
>> PubMed abstract


Veterinary Cancer Society


More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Kisseberth, W. C., D. M. Vail, et al. (2008). "Phase I clinical evaluation of carboplatin in tumor-bearing cats: a veterinary cooperative oncology group study." J Vet Intern Med 22(1): 83-8.


Carboplatin (Paraplatin, Bristol-Myers Squibb) is an alkylating agent widely used as chemotherapy for certain tumors in humans and dogs. In cats, only isolated case reports exist. Little investigation has been done to investigate the optimal dose and efficacy of this drug in cats with tumors. In this study, 59 cats with naturally occurring solid tumors were treated with carboplatin. Cats were enrolled in the study from several different institutions and had various tumor types, such as injection-site sarcomas and oral squamous cell sarcomas. The starting dose was 160 mg/m(2) of body surface area and the dose was increased in cohorts of cats until the maximally tolerated dose was determined. The maximally tolerated dose was 240 mg/m(2) and the dose limiting toxicity was neutropenia. The lowest neutrophil and platelet counts occurred 2 to 3 weeks after drug administration. There was no evidence of drug-induced kidney toxicity or pulmonary edema. There was one cat with complete response to treatment, and six cats with partial responses. The dose of carboplatin recommended by the researchers is 240 mg/m(2) IV every 3 to 4 weeks. Carboplatin appears to be safe and well tolerated in cats.
>> PubMed abstract


Veterinary Cancer Society


More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

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Seizures in Cats with FIP

Timmann, D., S. Cizinauskas, et al. (2008). "Retrospective analysis of seizures associated with feline infectious peritonitis in cats." J Feline Med Surg 10(1): 9-15.

Seizures have been reported frequently in feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) but have not been studied in detail in association with this disease. The purpose of this study was to perform a retrospective analysis of neurological signs in a population of 55 cats with a histopathologically confirmed neurological form of FIP. Seizure patterns were determined and it was attempted to relate occurrence of seizures with age, breed, sex and neuropathological features. Fourteen cats had seizure(s), while 41 cats had no history of seizure(s). Generalised tonic-clonic seizures were seen in nine cats; and complex focal seizures were observed in four patients. The exact type of seizure could not be determined in one cat. Status epilepticus was observed in one patient but seizure clusters were not encountered. Occurrence of seizures was not related to age, sex, breed or intensity of the inflammation in the central nervous system. However, seizures were significantly more frequent in animals with marked extension of the inflammatory lesions to the forebrain (P=0.038). Thus, the occurrence of seizures in FIP indicates extensive brain damage and can, therefore, be considered to be an unfavourable prognostic sign.
>>PubMed abstract

Related articles:
Winn funded research
Foley, J., C. Rand, et al. (2003). "Inflammation and changes in cytokine levels in neurological feline infectious peritonitis." J Fel Med Surg 5(6): 313-322.
>>PubMed abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Timmann, D., S. Cizinauskas, et al. (2008). "Retrospective analysis of seizures associated with feline infectious peritonitis in cats." J Feline Med Surg 10(1): 9-15.

Seizures have been reported frequently in feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) but have not been studied in detail in association with this disease. The purpose of this study was to perform a retrospective analysis of neurological signs in a population of 55 cats with a histopathologically confirmed neurological form of FIP. Seizure patterns were determined and it was attempted to relate occurrence of seizures with age, breed, sex and neuropathological features. Fourteen cats had seizure(s), while 41 cats had no history of seizure(s). Generalised tonic-clonic seizures were seen in nine cats; and complex focal seizures were observed in four patients. The exact type of seizure could not be determined in one cat. Status epilepticus was observed in one patient but seizure clusters were not encountered. Occurrence of seizures was not related to age, sex, breed or intensity of the inflammation in the central nervous system. However, seizures were significantly more frequent in animals with marked extension of the inflammatory lesions to the forebrain (P=0.038). Thus, the occurrence of seizures in FIP indicates extensive brain damage and can, therefore, be considered to be an unfavourable prognostic sign.
>>PubMed abstract

Related articles:
Winn funded research
Foley, J., C. Rand, et al. (2003). "Inflammation and changes in cytokine levels in neurological feline infectious peritonitis." J Fel Med Surg 5(6): 313-322.
>>PubMed abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

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Safety of IV Famotidine in Cats

de Brito Galvao, J. F. and L. A. Trepanier (2008). "Risk of hemolytic anemia with intravenous administration of famotidine to hospitalized cats." J Vet Intern Med 22(2): 325-9.

Famotidine is a histamine type 2 blocker, used to treat esophagitis, nausea and vomiting in cats. Anecdotally, famotidine has been associated with hemolytic anemia when given intravenously to cats, leading some clinicians to avoid this route of administration. The actual risk has not been fully evaluated, and many clinicians have never experienced adverse effects from IV use of famotidine in cats. The objective of this study was to determine if a significant drop in packed cell volume (PCV) was observed in hospitalized cats given famotidine IV compared to cats given the drug by the subcutaneous route (SC), or not at all. It was also hypothesized that when famotidine is given slowly IV, no signficant decrease in PCV would occur. A retrospective medical record review was performed involving 56 cats prescribed famotidine IV, 48 cats given famotidine SC, and 38 cats that were not prescribed the drug at all (control group). The IV famotidine was given by a standardized protocol in this study, with administration over a period of 5 minutes. No cats were given famotidine by rapid IV bolus. The median decrease in PCV was no different in cats that received famotidine by either route compared with the control group. No cats in the famotidine groups had any signs of hemolysis. In this retrospective study, famotidine was given IV to 56 hospitalized cats without evidence of hemolysis, and the IV route appeared safe when the drug was administered over 5 minutes. There did not appear to be a safety advantage of SC versus IV administration in this group of cats.
>> PubMed abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

de Brito Galvao, J. F. and L. A. Trepanier (2008). "Risk of hemolytic anemia with intravenous administration of famotidine to hospitalized cats." J Vet Intern Med 22(2): 325-9.

Famotidine is a histamine type 2 blocker, used to treat esophagitis, nausea and vomiting in cats. Anecdotally, famotidine has been associated with hemolytic anemia when given intravenously to cats, leading some clinicians to avoid this route of administration. The actual risk has not been fully evaluated, and many clinicians have never experienced adverse effects from IV use of famotidine in cats. The objective of this study was to determine if a significant drop in packed cell volume (PCV) was observed in hospitalized cats given famotidine IV compared to cats given the drug by the subcutaneous route (SC), or not at all. It was also hypothesized that when famotidine is given slowly IV, no signficant decrease in PCV would occur. A retrospective medical record review was performed involving 56 cats prescribed famotidine IV, 48 cats given famotidine SC, and 38 cats that were not prescribed the drug at all (control group). The IV famotidine was given by a standardized protocol in this study, with administration over a period of 5 minutes. No cats were given famotidine by rapid IV bolus. The median decrease in PCV was no different in cats that received famotidine by either route compared with the control group. No cats in the famotidine groups had any signs of hemolysis. In this retrospective study, famotidine was given IV to 56 hospitalized cats without evidence of hemolysis, and the IV route appeared safe when the drug was administered over 5 minutes. There did not appear to be a safety advantage of SC versus IV administration in this group of cats.
>> PubMed abstract

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Measurement of Heart Size in Cats

Ghadiri, A., R. Avizeh, et al. (2008). "Radiographic measurement of vertebral heart size in healthy stray cats." J Feline Med Surg 10(1): 61-5.

Determination of heart size on chest radiographs is important when evaluating cats for cardiac disease. An enlarged cardiac silhouette is an indicator of cardiac disease. However, determination of cardiac size is usually subjective. In recent years, a cardiac measurement technique called the vertebral heart size or score (VHS) has been investigated as a less biased assessment of cardiac size. VHS compares cardiac dimensions with the length of mid-thoracic vertebrae. It has previously been evaluated in mixed groups of obese and non-obese cats of various ages, breeds, and sizes. Different breeds of dogs may have different normal reference values for VHS but it is not known if there is variability in normal reference values for different populations of cats. The objective of this study was to determine VHS in clinically normal, domestic shorthair, non-obese stray cats. The study was performed in Ahvaz, Iran. Left and right lateral, dorsoventral and ventrodorsal radiographs were taken and evaluated. Absolute measurements and vertebral heart scale values were slightly smaller than those previously reported in the literature, indicating that normal reference values may vary by breed or population in cats.
>> PubMed abstract

Related articles:
Litster, A. and J. Buchanan (2000). "Vertebral scale system to measure heart size in radiographs of cats." J Amer Vet Med Assoc 216(2): 210-214.
>> PubMed abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Ghadiri, A., R. Avizeh, et al. (2008). "Radiographic measurement of vertebral heart size in healthy stray cats." J Feline Med Surg 10(1): 61-5.

Determination of heart size on chest radiographs is important when evaluating cats for cardiac disease. An enlarged cardiac silhouette is an indicator of cardiac disease. However, determination of cardiac size is usually subjective. In recent years, a cardiac measurement technique called the vertebral heart size or score (VHS) has been investigated as a less biased assessment of cardiac size. VHS compares cardiac dimensions with the length of mid-thoracic vertebrae. It has previously been evaluated in mixed groups of obese and non-obese cats of various ages, breeds, and sizes. Different breeds of dogs may have different normal reference values for VHS but it is not known if there is variability in normal reference values for different populations of cats. The objective of this study was to determine VHS in clinically normal, domestic shorthair, non-obese stray cats. The study was performed in Ahvaz, Iran. Left and right lateral, dorsoventral and ventrodorsal radiographs were taken and evaluated. Absolute measurements and vertebral heart scale values were slightly smaller than those previously reported in the literature, indicating that normal reference values may vary by breed or population in cats.
>> PubMed abstract

Related articles:
Litster, A. and J. Buchanan (2000). "Vertebral scale system to measure heart size in radiographs of cats." J Amer Vet Med Assoc 216(2): 210-214.
>> PubMed abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Read More