Prognostic Indicators in Canine Naïve and Relapsed Lymphoma

Abstract

Lymphoma is the most common haematopoietic neoplasia of the domestic canine patient. Although all lymphoproliferative neoplasia, there is a vast spectrum of biologic behaviour of canine lymphoma ranging from clinically indolent to biologically aggressive. This manuscript deals mainly with clinically aggressive forms of canine lymphoma, which if left untreated is often rapidly progressive and fatal. Advances in our understanding of canine lymphoproliferative neoplasia including the aetiopathogenesis and genetic predispositions have helped to appropriately direct our diagnostics. Further, multiple prognostic indicators for naïve canine lymphoma have been established. Despite an often-robust response to initial therapy, relapse of lymphoma is common and often devastating, with worsening prognoses due to intrinsic and acquired chemotherapy resistance, often in combination with patient deterioration due to neoplasia or the treatment thereof. The aim of this thesis is to critically assess the available veterinary literature regarding prognostic indicators for canine lymphoma in the naïve setting, and in a cohort of relapsed lymphoma patients. Chapter 1 provides a review of the aetiopathogenesis of canine lymphoma, and then further discusses the clinically available prognostic factors in canine naïve lymphoma. Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 are novel research projects that evaluate prognostic indicators for canine cutaneous lymphoma, and canine naïve non-indolent T-cell lymphoma, respectively. Literature review of prognostic indicators for canine relapsed or resistant lymphoma is presented in Chapter 4. Finally, Chapter 5 is a novel research project regarding the clinical outcomes for canine multicentric lymphoma treated with first rescue therapies. In summary, this thesis helps to strengthen our understanding and prognostication for the clinical management of canine lymphoma, both in the naïve and relapse settings.