Canine hemangiosarcoma treated with standard chemotherapy and minocycline

Standard treatments for canine hemangiosarcoma include surgery and chemothe rapy with doxorubicin, but in spite of treatment most dogs with this diseas e die within 6 months of diagnosis. Tumor growth and metastasis are angioge nesis dependent. Antiangiogenic drugs such as minocycline may provide thera peutic benefits in cancer patients. The purpose of this prospective study w as to evaluate the efficacy of chemotherapy with doxorubicin and minocyclin e, an antiangiogenic agent, in dogs with hemangiosarcoma. Eighteen dogs wit h histologically confirmed hemangiosarcoma of any stage were treated with d oxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and minocycline. Complete staging was perform ed before and during the treatment period to assess remission status and re sponse to therapy. No statistically significant difference was found in sur vival between the dogs treated with chemotherapy and minocycline, and histo rical controls consisting of dogs that received chemotherapy alone. Postmor tem examination revealed widespread metastasis, suggesting that minocycline is ineffective as a single antiangiogenic agent in canine hemangiosarcoma.