Intramedullary cisplatin chemotherapy: experience in four dogs with osteosarcoma

Single-agent intramedullary cisplatin chemotherapy provided effective localised control in two of four dogs with advanced stage osteosarcoma unable to withstand an amputation or limb-sparing surgery. Complete remission of the local neoplasm was observed in one of the four dogs, partial remission of the local neoplasm in one dog and progressive disease in the other two. Limb function was preserved in one dog for seven months and that dog was found to be tumour-free when euthanased due to unrelated causes. These preliminary results warrant further investigation into the use of intramedullary cisplatin chemotherapy in the localised management of canine appendicular osteosarcoma. It is possible that this mode of treatment may be combined with other treatments to maximise the survival (i.e., systemic control) in other dogs affected with appendicular osteosarcoma.