Metronomic therapy to manage the veterinary patient with cancer
Comparte Abstract Cancer is a frequent problem in veterinary practice in small animals; aggre ssive strategies with several side effects are used to its control, which has stimulated research of new therapeutic options. The metronomic chemotherapy consists in regular administration of low doses of antineoplastic drugs for long periods of time. Together with its antitumor potential, it is administrated easily and has apparent reduced toxicity, showing clinical benefits within advanced diseases or geriatric and weak patients mainly by angiogenesis inhibition and antitumor immune modulation. In small animals, cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil and lomustine have been used mainly, in some cases associated with other drugs, to treat several kinds of tumors, obtaining clinical advantages and low toxicities. However, current studies are limited, and selection of most doses and intervals use to be empirical, in detriment of therapeutic efficacy. This work aims to evidence the potential use of this kind of antineoplastic chemotherapy in domestic animals, as well as the advances in comprehension of its mechanisms of action, drugs, schedules and toxic effects, trying to do a best and more aware use of this chemotherapy strategy in oncologic patients.