THERAPEUTIC MANAGEMENT OF CANINE MULTICENTRIC LYMPHOMA

Abstract

Canine multicentric lymphoma is one of the most frequent malignant neoplasms in small animal clinical practice, with the tumor immunophenotype, especially the distinction between B-cell and T-cell lymphomas, being one of the main determinants of prognosis and therapeutic choice. This study aimed to critically evaluate the most recent scientific evidence regarding treatments, with emphasis on CHOP chemotherapy protocols, clinical and hematological prognostic factors, and emerging diagnostic biomarkers. The methodology consisted of a narrative literature review, using articles published in the last five years and indexed in the PubMed database. The results demonstrate that CHOP-based protocols remain the gold standard, with no significant superiority between longer-duration regimens, such as CHOP-25, compared to shorter protocols, such as CHOP-19. Recent evidence indicates that individualization and escalation of chemotherapy doses can increase therapeutic efficacy without a significant increase in toxicity. Furthermore, hematological factors, such as neutrophilia at the time of diagnosis, are associated with a shorter progression-free interval, while molecular biomarkers, especially serum microRNAs such as miR-155 and miR-181a, show promising potential for prognostic stratification and immunophenotypic differentiation. It is concluded that the management of canine multicentric lymphoma is moving towards a more personalized approach, integrating established chemotherapy protocols, individualized dose adjustments, and the incorporation of clinical and molecular biomarkers, with the aim of optimizing therapeutic outcomes and the quality of life of patients.