Jadon, N.S.Upadhyay, Prachi2019-09-182019-09-182019-08http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810128627Sixteen adult dogs suffering from canine mammary tumours used in this study were divided randomly into two groups having equal number of dogs (Group I and Group II). Patients of group I were subjected to administration of docetaxel (@30mg/m2 weekly four consecutive cycles) and patients of Group II were subjected to surgical excision of tumoral growth followed by chemotherapy with docetaxel (@30mg/m2 weekly four consecutive cycles). The therapeutic efficacy was determined by observing various parameters clinical (physical appearance and gross regression), radiological assessment, ultrasonographic screening, haematological (haemoglobin, total erythrocyte count, total leucocyte count and differential leucocyte count), biochemical (aspartate amino transferase, alanine amino transferase, serum creatinine and serum urea nitrogen) histopathological and gene expression profiling of EGFR to assess the fold change in its expression as result of treatment modality via RT-PCR analysis. The rectal temperature, heart rate and respiration rate showed non-significant changes at various time intervals in both the groups. Haemoglobin levels decreased non-significantly, total erythrocyte count and platelets varied non-significantly in both the groups. Neutrophil count revealed significant decrease in both the groups, whereas significant increase in lymphocyte increased significantly in both the groups and significant increase was observed in group II as compared to group I. Biochemical study revealed significant increase in levels of AST, BUN and serum creatinine within group II further, significant increase was also observed in group II as compared to group I. istopathologically, five (31.25%) tumours appeared to be benign while eleven (68.75%) tumours were malignant. On ultrasonographical study, no difference in regularity of tumour shape and margins, echotexture and shadowing was observed among benign and malignant tumours, tumour echogenicity was homogenous in benign tumours and posterior enhancement was evident in malignant ones. Lateral and ventrodorsal radiographs manifested lung metastsis in 10 cases however, three cases out of eight in group I and one case out of eight in group II revealed slight lung clearence on day 28. Clinical response rate was responders 62.5% and non-responders 37.5% in group I. In group II, complete response with no reoccurrence was observed in five cases (62.5%) and three cases showed reoccurrence, these patients had a tendency towards better survival rates and prolongation of life as compared to group I. Gene expression profiling revealed that EGFR receptor was comparatively more down-regulated in patients of group II subjected to surgical resection of canine mammary tumours followed by chemotherapy as compared to patients of group I which were subjected to docetaxel therapy. On the basis of above mentioned parameters it was concluded that the combination therapy had better response rate, survival rates and more down-regulation of EGFR gene involved in tumour invasion and metastasis. Combination of surgery and chemotherapy with docetaxel may be used safely by field veterinarians under proper observation for the treatment of mammary tumours in canines.ennullThesis