Canine salivary gland carcinoma treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy: a retrospective case series.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the therapeutic outcomes of dogs with locally advanced salivary gland carcinomas (SGC) following stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). METHODS: A single institution retrospective study was conducted of client-owned dogs with macroscopic SGC treated with SBRT. Patient signalment, clinical characteristics, and treatment parameters were recorded. Clinical benefit was determined based on follow-up physical examination and medical history. Progression-free interval (PFI), median survival time (MST), and disease-specific survival (DSS) were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Acute and late toxicity were recorded according to Veterinary Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (VRTOG) criteria. RESULTS: Six patients were included in the study. Tumor origins were mandibular ( = 3), parotid ( = 2), and zygomatic ( = 1) salivary glands. The SBRT prescription was 10 Gy × 3 daily or every other day. All patients (100%) experienced clinical benefit from treatment at a median time of 34 days (range 28-214). No local or regional nodal failure was reported following SBRT. Progressive pulmonary metastatic disease was documented in three dogs (50%). The median PFI was 260 days (range 43-1,014) and the MST was 397 days (range 185-1,014). Median DSS was 636 days (range 185-1,014). Four dogs (66.6%) died of confirmed or suspected metastatic SGC. The reported acute side effects included grade 2 mucositis ( = 1) and vision loss ( = 1). No late side effects were recorded. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that SBRT may provide durable local control for invasive SGC in dogs. Further investigation in a larger cohort of patients is warranted. The incidence of reported acute and late toxicity was low.