Introduction

Canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT) is a naturally contagious tumor occurring at both genital (GTVT) and extragenital (ETVT) areas which are transmitted during coitus. Vincristine sulphate (VCL) is used as conventional chemotherapy for CTVT. Resistant VCL-treated CTVT can be occurred, then selective L-asparaginase was applied to these cases.

Objectives

This study aimed to develop an optional treatment protocol for CTVT.

Methods

Six dogs (5 males and 1 female) with external genital mass were diagnosed as CTVT by cytology, histopathology and PCR, and treated with combined chemotherapeutic drugs, L-asparaginase at a dosage 200 IU/kg given subcutaneously at week 1 and 3, and VCL at a dosage 0.025 mg/kg given intravenously at week 2 and 4 at least 2 cycles.

Results

All dogs showed complete remission within 4 weeks of treatment duration and did not show any adverse effects of drug toxicities (Figure 1).

Figure 1

Discussion and Conclusions

Combination chemotherapy (L-asparaginase and VCL), might be an optional chemotherapy in both GTVT, ETVT and resistant VCL-treated CTVT. This new protocol decreases treatment duration time and improve the quality of life in CTVT-bearing dogs.