VSH Announces Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Canine Lymphoma April 27, 2010 - Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Canine Lymphoma following chemotherapy and total body irradiation is now available at Veterinary Specialty Hospital.

The median survival following treatment of canine multicentric lymphoma withe standard multidrug chemotherapy protocols is approximately one year. This prognosis has not changed substantially over the past two decades. Bone marrow (hematopoietic) cell transplant therapy is a treatment option for humans diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma and is a method that has improved survival for some patients diagnosed with these diseases. This success is the motivating factor in development of a hematopoietic cell transplant protocol to improve treatment outcome for canine lymphoma.

The procedure consists of 5 steps: 1) Extensive client education and appropriate patient selection consisting of determination of post-induction chemotherapy remission status and general health evaluation. 2) Consolidation chemotherapy with high-dose cyclophosphamide 3) Apheresis to collect hematopoietic cells circulating in the peripheral blood 4) Total body irradiation (TBI) followed by administration of the collected hematopoietic cells to replenish the patient bone marrow 5) Post-TBI recovery in an isolation room until the patient’s neutrophil count is improved to the degree that the patient is no longer at risk for infection.

Development of this program represents another first from the Veterinary Specialty Hospital! VSH is the only facility south of Los Angeles and west of Texas to offer this treatment option. Please contact Dr. Brenda Phillips with any questions at 858-875-7500 x 2713 for voicemail.

April 2010 is also the 10th Anniversary of Dr. Phillips’ arrival in San Diego. She is grateful to the community for welcoming her with open arms ten years ago. Dr. Phillips, together with Dr. Blaise Burke who heads Radiation Oncology services, provides comprehensive and compassionate treatments for cancer.

Medical Oncology services include: Chemotherapy (personalized protocols for your patients and clients), receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (Palladia™ and masitinib), immunotherapy, nutritional support, palliation of cancer-related symptoms, and clinical trials.

Radiation Oncology services include: Definitive (curative intent) and coarsely-fractionated (palliative intent or melanoma) protocols, Cyberknife, half-body radiotherapy for canine lymphoma, total body irradiation with hematopoietic cell rescue for canine lymphoma, strontium-90 brachytherapy, and clinical trials.

Both oncology services enjoy an active collaboration with all of the VSH specialists to ensure a multidisciplinary approach to management of oncology patients.

Compassion ¤ Progress ¤ Integrity ¤ Innovation ¤ Communication Leadership ¤ Education ¤ Experience

For more information about the Veterinary Specialty Hospital in Sorrento Valley:

http://www.vshsd.com