11536 Lake City Way NE
Seattle, WA 98125
Phone: 206-364-3733 Fax: 206-364-3667
Palladia (toceranib phosphate)
This drug will not be appropriate for all mast cell tumor patients; local therapy (surgery +/- radiation therapy) will, in most cases, still be preferred for patients at a low risk of metastasis. For patients with recurrent or high risk tumors, or where surgery is not an option, Palladia may be used alone or in combination with surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
As with any anticancer treatment, there is no way to predict how well or how long any individual patient will respond.
Palladia belongs to a group of drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Anti-tumor effects of this group of drugs are potentially twofold: 1. they can directly kill neoplastic tumor cells and 2. they can interfere with the blood vessels supplying the tumor, thereby affecting the life-support system of the tumor
It is our opinion that veterinarians should approach the use of Palladia in the same way that they do more standard chemotherapy drugs, and as with all anticancer therapy, the clinician and pet owner need to evaluate and compare the risks and possible benefits of treatment(s) for any individual patient. The clinical trial of Palladia identified a moderate rate of side effects which require prompt intervention. Supportive care and temporary drug withdrawal may be necessary for some patients. The prescribing information offers guidelines for dose modification if necessary to manage adverse events. Supportive concomitant medications may be required to help a patient tolerate chronic administration of Palladia. Mild side effects may progress to more moderate or severe problems relatively quickly. Thorough client education, good communication, and close patient monitoring are very important when using this drug.
If you are a veterinarian and have a patient that you think will benefit from this treatment, please call our office to request a phone consultation. You will need to submit a Phone Consult Request Form along with all the relevant patient information.
If you think your pet may be a candidate for Palladia, please call our office to schedule an initial consultation. In most cases, a referral from your pet's primary veterinarian is required.
