"Prostatic Tumors in Dogs"
TUMOR TIDBITS, A BIWEEKLY VETERINARY ONCOLOGY E-LETTER
Volume 2; Number 20; December 5, 2001.

Editor: Kevin A. Hahn, DVM, PhD, Dipl - ACVIM (Oncology) & Overall Nice Guy!

THIS WEEK'S TUMOR TIDBIT:  PROSTATIC TUMORS IN DOGS

Common Clinical Signs:  Tenesmus, constipation, dyschezia, and (less commonly) 
dysuria and hematuria

Common Histologic Types:  Adenocarcinoma

Biological Behavior:  Equal frequency in castrated and uncastrated dogs 
regardless of age at castration; old dogs (median age is 10 years)

Prognostic Findings:  May be more aggressive in castrated dogs (but 
highly malignant in both castrated and uncastrated dogs)

Treatment Considerations:
  - Surgery: Difficult because of anatomy of canine prostate.

  - Radiation Therapy: Palliative only, due to high metastatic rate to the
  sublumbar lymph nodes and vertebrae (include abdominal ultrasound and
  possible bone scintigraphy in  your staging).

  - Chemotherapy: Has no proven efficacy in reducing tumor size but 
  recent work suggests that Mitoxantrone combined with Piroxicam has 
  efficacy in a limited number of dogs.

  - Hormonal Therapy: Ineffective because of hormone independence 
  of canine prostatic carcinoma.

What's our best protocol at Gulf Coast?
We have found that the best form of palliation to relieve signs of tenesmus 
and dysuria includes a combination of radiation (once every 2 weeks for 3 
times) with  Mitoxantrone chemotherapy (once every 2 weeks for 5 times) 
combined with daily Piroxicam.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT PROSTATIC TUMORS IN DOGS?  Don't 
hesitate to call or email us at Gulf Coast Veterinary Oncology!  We can 
forward additional info by email if needed.

ALL THE BEST,
Kevin A. Hahn, DVM, PhD
Diplomate ACVIM (Oncology) & Overall Nice Guy
Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists
1111 West Loop South, Suite 150
Houston, TX 77027
P: 713.693.1166
F: 713.693.1167
www.gcvs.com
drhahn@gulfcoastvetspec.com