Abstract   

    Ten-bitches and 8-male dogs afflicted with transmissible venereal tumour (TVT) randomly divided into 3 groups viz. Group-l, Group-11 and Group-111 comprising 6 dogs each, were subjected to three different protocols. Group-1 was treated surgically. A complete regression of the tumour mass was observed in 4 (66.67%) dogs, while 2 (33.34%) had incomplete regression at the end of first 5 weeks. A 16.67% recurrence rate was also observed at the end of 6 months study period. In Group-ll, chemotherapy with intravenous injection of vincristine sulphate @ 0.025 mg/kg b.wt. affected 80.33% (n=5) complete regression whereas incomplete regression was recorded in only one (16.67%) subject at the end of 5th week. Vomiting and inappetance as side-effects were also noticed. Group-III was subjected to a combination of surgery and chemotherapy where vincristine sulphate was used after surgical debulking of tumour mass. A 100% regression even after 2-3 injections with no recurrence was achieved till 6 months post-treatment. There was a significant increase (P~0.01 ) in erythrocyte sedimentation rate and total leukocyte count (TLC) in TVT -afflicted dogs which returned to normal after 2-5 weeks of treatment. Vincristine sulphate had a significant decreasing effect on TLC in both Group-11 and Group-lll, which was transient.     

Key words: Transmissible vene.real tumour; Vincristine; Oncology; Cancer therapy.