Despite the early notion that @entity235 oral @entity320 is radioresistant, recent data suggest that external beam radiotherapy is effective in @entity5 control. However, optimal fractionation schedules have not been established. The high rate of regional and distant @entity3 is another problem that has hindered long-term control. The role of chemotherapy in the management of @entity235 oral @entity320 has also not been determined. In this study, data from 140 @entity235 irradiated at North Carolina State University were evaluated with the following objectives: (1) to compare the efficacy of three radiation therapy protocols (36 Gy, 9 Gy x 4 fractions; 30 Gy, 10 Gy x 3 fractions; or >45 Gy, 2-4 Gy x 12-19 fractions) for the treatment of @entity235 with oral @entity320 , (2) to identify any host or @entity5 factors influencing prognosis, and (3) to determine the impact of systemic chemotherapy on treatment outcome. Information regarding response to therapy, disease progression, and survival were determined from the medical records or from information obtained by telephone or mail survey. Relationships between host, @entity5 , and treatment variables and outcome measures (response, time to first event, and survival) were evaluated using Fisher's exact test (response) and the Cox regression model (time to first event and survival). The median time to first event for the 140 @entity235 was 5.0 months (95% C.I., 4-6 months) and the median survival was 7.0 months (95% C.I., 6-9 months). In the univariate analysis, the following variables were associated with increased time to first event and survival: (1) @entity5 sublocation; (2) lack of bone lysis observed on skull imaging, and (3) microscopic @entity5 burden. In a multivariate analysis of 111 @entity235 with complete data for these variables, @entity5 sublocation, bone lysis, and @entity5 volume were identified as joint predictors of time to first event (p < .001, p < .001, and p = .04, respectively) and survival (p < .001, p < .001, and p = .05, respectively). There were no differences in response, time to first event and survival between the three radiation therapy protocols used. Systemic chemotherapy had no impact on the development of @entity3 , time to first event, or survival, although the dosages used in this study were suboptimal. External beam radiation therapy is effective in @entity66 control of @entity235 oral @entity320 ; however, the optimal fractionation scheme has yet to be determined. The high metastatic rate observed with this disease and the inefficacy of systemic chemotherapy indicate that further investigation into novel therapies is warranted.

A retrospective analysis of 140 XXXX with oral @entity320 treated with external beam radiation.

@entity66 :: ('MESH:D004194', 'Disease') :: ['local disease'] @entity235 :: ('9615', 'Species') :: ['canine', 'dogs'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['tumor', 'rostral tumor', 'local tumor'] @entity3 :: ('MESH:D009362', 'Disease') :: ['metastasis', 'metastatic disease'] @entity320 :: ('MESH:D008545', 'Disease') :: ['melanoma', 'malignant melanoma']
@entity235 :: (9615,Species) :: ['dogs']
