55 - SAM

What is cancer?

Uncontrolled growth and proliferation of cells

What are the major causes of cancer in veterinary patients?

Genetics environment infectious agents dietary factors hormones and chronic inflammation or trauma

Which breeds are predisposed to specific cancers?

German Shepherds: renal cystadenocarcinoma

What environmental factors are associated with cancer development in animals?

Tobacco smoke pesticides herbicides insecticides sunlight radiation and asbestos

What cancers are associated with pesticide and herbicide exposure in dogs?

Lymphoma is associated with 2,4-D exposure

What are the major infectious risk factors for lymphoma in cats?

FeLV causes a 60-fold increased risk

What is the relationship between secondhand smoke and cancer in dogs and cats?

Dogs have a 3.4-fold increased risk of lymphoma and nasal carcinoma

How does spaying affect mammary tumor risk in dogs and cats?

Intact female dogs have approximately 7 times the risk of mammary cancer

What cancers are associated with chronic inflammation or trauma in cats?

Feline injection site sarcoma ocular sarcoma and lymphoma associated with chronic inflammatory enteropathy

What are the three primary cancer treatment modalities and which are local versus systemic?

Surgery and radiation therapy are local treatments

What is the primary indication for surgery in oncology and what are its major exceptions?

Localized solid tumors

What is radiation therapy used for in veterinary oncology?

Uses ionizing radiation to destroy tumor cells

What is chemotherapy used for and what are its three major applications?

Uses cytotoxic or targeted drugs to treat primary tumors prevent or treat metastasis and palliate tumor-related symptoms

What is induction chemotherapy and which tumors are commonly treated this way?

Chemotherapy used as the sole treatment modality for primary tumors

What is adjuvant chemotherapy and when is it used?

Chemotherapy added after another treatment such as surgery or radiation to improve local control or address tumors with high metastatic potential

What is neoadjuvant chemotherapy and what is its purpose?

Chemotherapy given before surgery or another treatment to shrink or downstage a tumor and make subsequent treatment more feasible

What is the difference between definitive and palliative cancer therapy?

Definitive therapy aims for the longest possible disease control and is generally more expensive with higher morbidity

What are median survival time (MST) disease-free interval (DFI) and cure?

MST is the time at which 50% of patients have died from cancer

What defines complete remission partial remission and overall response rate?

Complete remission is disappearance of detectable cancer for at least 2 dosing intervals

What defines stable disease progressive disease and a successful palliative response?

Stable disease is less than 50% decrease and no more than 25% increase in tumor burden for at least 2 dosing intervals