Antitumor effects of deracoxib in dogs with transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder

This study provides more information on the use of deracoxib for the treatment of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), a frequent type of cancer found in the urinary tract of dogs. Treating these tumors with selective Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors could be beneficial, assuming these drugs will cause less harmful side effects when compared to nonselective COX inhibitors.

The authors’ goal was to investigate the antineoplastic impact and side effects of deracoxib, a COX-2 inhibitor, in the treatment of TCC. For this purpose, twenty-four dogs with TCC of the urinary bladder were submitted to treatment with deracoxib. Their progress was monitored through several complementary exams such as hematologic and biochemical tests, radiography, abdominal ultrasonography, and mapping of the masses on their bladder through ultrasound.

According to their findings, deracoxib has antitumoral effects and mild side effects (mainly gastrointestinal signs and elevated liver enzymes). Following treatment, 17% of dogs presented partial remission, 71% presented stable disease and researchers confirmed that the disease was progressing in 13% of these dogs. The dogs in this study had a median survival time of 323 days.

In McMillan SK, Boria P, Moore GE, Widmer WR, Bonney PL, Knapp DW. Antitumor effects of deracoxib treatment in 26 dogs with transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. J Amer Vet Med Assoc 2011; 239:1084-9.