From the Research
Toceranib is the recommended treatment for Anal Gland Adenocarcinoma (AGASAC) in dogs, particularly for those with metastatic disease, due to its ability to provide durable control of hypercalcaemia and improve quality of life, as evidenced by a recent study published in 2025 1.
Key Considerations
- The study published in 2025 1 highlights the effectiveness of toceranib in managing hypercalcaemia of malignancy secondary to metastatic ASAGAC, with both dogs achieving durable control of hypercalcaemia and remaining alive for 519 and 477 days, respectively.
- Another study published in 2020 2 also supports the use of toceranib, with a median progression-free survival and overall survival time of 313 and 827 days, respectively, and a clinical benefit observed in 69% of dogs.
- While carboplatin is also a viable option, the combination of carboplatin and toceranib may be considered, as a phase I dose-finding study published in 2018 3 found this combination to be well-tolerated, with clinical benefit observed in most cases.
Treatment Approach
- Toceranib should be administered at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg orally every other day, with adjustments made as needed to manage side effects.
- Regular monitoring, including physical examinations, lymph node assessment, chest radiographs, and abdominal ultrasounds, is essential to detect recurrence or metastasis.
- Palliative chemotherapy and pain management should be prioritized for dogs with metastatic disease, with a focus on improving quality of life.
Important Notes
- The prognosis for dogs with AGASAC varies significantly based on tumor stage, with median survival times ranging from 6-18 months.
- Early detection and aggressive multimodal therapy are crucial, as AGASAC is highly invasive and metastasizes early, commonly to sublumbar lymph nodes and lungs.
- Hypercalcemia is a negative prognostic factor for clinical outcomes, and its management is critical in improving quality of life and survival times.