CHEMOTHERAPY CLINICAL TRIAL

FOR CATS

WITH SARCOMAS

 The incidence of soft tissue sarcomas in cats has risen significantly during the last decade.  There is epidemiological evidence that vaccines are associated with this increase.  The combination of surgery and radiation therapy provides the best control for these tumors in cats.  However, many cats still fail to be cured.  Chemotherapy is indicated for cats with soft tissue sarcomas when surgery or radiation therapy is not possible or has not been successful.  The combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy may also help to control sarcomas in cats.

 Ifosfamide is one of three chemotherapeutic agents that have proven significant activity against soft tissue sarcomas in people.  Response rates have been superior to those seen with doxorubicin.  We recently evaluated ifosfamide in tumor bearing dogs and measurable responses were observed.  The purpose of the present study is to document evidence of antitumor activity when ifosfamide is used to treat cats with vaccine-associated sarcomas.  If ifosfamide proves effective, we anticipate incorporating its use in combination with radiation therapy and surgery.

 Eligibility criteria:

• Biopsy-proven soft tissue sarcoma
• Measurable disease must be present
• No prior chemotherapy or radiation therapy
• No cardiac, renal or hepatic disease

 Cats will be seen by an oncologist for an initial appointment and evaluation and then treatment with ifosfamide will be scheduled.  Ifosfamide is given with saline diuresis over 6 hours.  Bloodwork will need to be obtained days 7, 14 and 21 after treatment.  If cats respond to ifosfamide, treatments will be continued every 21 days.  If there is no response, the owners may explore other treatment options.

 *Funding is available for this chemotherapy trial.  If you have questions about the ifosfamide study or have a client interested in participating, please contact the oncologists at the following institutions:

      ·        Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
·        Animal Diagnostic Clinic, Dallas, TX
·        Boston Road Animal Hospital, Springfield, MA
·        Veterinary Oncology Services, Edmonds, WA
·        Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
·        Tufts University, N. Grafton, MA
·        Veterinary Oncology Services, La Jolla, CA
·        San Francisco Veterinary Specialists, San Francisco, CA
·        Veterinary Cancer Referral Group, Los Angeles, CA

* Funding provided by the Vaccine Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force and Winn Feline Foundation

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