Response of Canine Soft Tissue Sarcoma to Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy

Canine soft tissue sarcoma (STS) has served as a preclinical model for radiation, hyperthermia, experimental therapeutics, and tumor microenvironmental research for decades. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) demonstrates promising results for the control of various tumors in human and veterinary medicine; however, there is limited clinical data for the management of STS with SBRT. In this retrospective study, we aimed to define overall efficacy and toxicity of SBRT for the treatment of macroscopic canine STS to establish this preclinical model for comparative oncology research. Fifty-two canine patients met inclusion criteria. Total radiation dose prescribed ranged from 20-50 Gy delivered in 1-5 fractions. Median progression-free survival time (PFST) was 173 days and overall survival time (OST) 228 days. Best overall response was evaluable in 46 patients, with 30.4% responding to treatment (complete response n = 3; partial response n = 11). For responders, OST significantly increased to 475 days vs. 201 days (P = 0.009). Prognostic factors identified by multivariable Cox regressions included size of tumor and metastasis at presentation. Dogs were 3× more likely to progress (P = 0.009) or 3.5× more likely to experience death (P = 0.003) at all times of follow up if they presented with metastatic disease. Similarly, every 100-cc increase in tumor volume resulted in a 5% increase in the risk of progression (P = 0.002) and death (P = 0.001) at all times of follow up. Overall, 30.8% of patients developed acute toxicities, 7.7% grade 3; 28.8% of patients developed late toxicities, 11.5% grade 3. Increased dose administered to the skin significantly affected toxicity development. SBRT serves as a viable treatment option to provide local tumor control for canine macroscopic STS, particularly those with early-stage disease and smaller tumors. The results of this study will help to define patient inclusion criteria and to set dose limits for preclinical canine STS trials involving SBRT.