GI/Oral Tumors (Objectives Only)

What diagnostics should be considered when presented with an oral mass in a dog or cat?

- BW

- LN Cytology (Melanoma will exfoliate well)

- Can also use sentinel LN mapping

- Imaging - Local/thoracic (CT scan, thoracic/skull radiographs)

Identify common locations for epulids to arise in the dog and cat.

- Acanthomatous ameloblastoma -> Rostral mandible

- Peripheral odontogenic fibroma -> Maxilla rostral to 3rd premolar most common

Identify the oral malignant tumor with the highest metastatic potential in the dog.

- Oral malignant melanoma

Identify the most common malignant oral tumors in dogs and cats.

- Dogs: OMM (followed by SCC and fibrosarcoma)

- Cats: SCC (followed by fibrosarcoma)

What are common etiological factors associated with feline SCC?

- Flea collars

- Canned food

- Canned tuna

- +/- exposure to cigarette smoke

Explain how the melanoma vaccine works in dogs.

- Xenogenic DNA vaccine which targets the human tyrosinase gene (Tyrosine = Glycoprotein essential for melanin synthesis) and is meant to inhibit the development of metastasis

What is the method of administration for the melanoma vaccine in dogs.

- Injected in the inner thigh and directly into the SQ so the DCs can take up vaccine and bring to immune cells

- 4 loading doses every 2 weeks, and then every 6 months

What are common gastric tumors in the dog?

- Adenocarcinoma (70-80%)

- Smooth muscle tumors, GIST, lymphoma, others

What are common gastric tumors in the cat?

- Lymphoma - Solitary or component of higher stage disease

- Adenocarcinoma - Rare

What are treatment options for perianal adenomas?

- Castration (it is hormone dependent); May take several months for mass(es) to decrease in size

- Surgical resection

What are treatment options for perianal adenomocarcinomas?

- Surgery (primary tumor +/- LN if they look even slightly abnormal): Can be difficult to get clean margins

- Radiation therapy at high doses; SRT for gross disease (primary tumor +/- LNs) and for tumor site post-op/LN beds

- Chemotherapy used as adjuvant post-op (Carboplatin or mitoxantrone after local control; Palladia)

- Best survival for Sx, radiation and chemotherapy

List common prognostic factors for AGASACas.

- Tumors size > 2.5 cm (If under this size, Sx w/o chemo; If larger -> Sx and chemo +/- radiation)

- LN metastasis

- Distant metastasis

- Lack of surgery or any treatment

- +/- Hypercalcemia (Variable reports regarding whether a negative prognostic factor)

What is a common paraneoplastic syndrome associated with AGASACA?

- Hypercalcemia (25-50%)