Clinical data, morphometric and texture features nuclei as prognostic and predictive factors in canine transmissible venereal tumor

Author(s)

Maria Luiza de Castro Ramos Valladão

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Ciências Médicas
• Defense date: 2007-09-02

Examining board members

Konradin Metze; Fernando Augusto Soares; Laura Sterian Ward

• Advisor: Konradin Metze

Abstract

The veneral transmissible tumor of dogs (CTVT) is a common neoplasia in free roaming dogs. Since this tumor may metastasize it is a possible tread for the animals. In a prospective exploratory study based on 100 dogs with naturally occuring CTVT we collected data on breed, sex, age, weight, tumor size and the score on a modified Karnofsky Performance Scale, as well cytologic smears. The objective of the investigation was study to elaborate prognostic factors related to survival and predicitive factors related to the response to vincristine monochemotherapy. Age, sex and the Karnofsky score showed to be independent prognostic factors for survival during chemotherapy. A score below 50 indicated poor survival. Time of interruption of the treatment, season of the year, nuclear area and "roughness" of the cromatin in cytologic preparations showed to be independent prognostic factors for the success of therapy. Thus survival during therapy depends on the performance status of the dog, whereas therapy success depends both on tumor characteristics and external factors modificating the animals performance (AU)