Hepatotoxicity associated with CCNU (lomustine) chemotherapy in dogs.

One hundred seventy-nine tumor-bearing dogs were treated with 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU) between 1995 and 2001. CCNU was given as a single dose of 50-110 mg/m2 body surface area PO. Treatment interval varied, but the minimal interval between CCNU doses was 3 weeks. After treatment, 11 dogs (6.1%) developed hepatic toxicity. The median number of CCNU doses and the median total cumulative CCNU dose were significantly higher in dogs that developed hepatic toxicity (4 doses; 350 mg/m2) than in dogs without hepatic damage (3 doses; 230 mg/m2). Median duration to detection of hepatic toxicity from the last dose of CCNU was 11 weeks (range 2-49 weeks). Common biochemical abnormalities were abnormally high serum liver enzyme activities and hypoalbuminemia. Six dogs with CCNU-associated hepatic toxicity had ascites, and 3 dogs had concurrent pleural effusion. Serum concentrations of bile acids were abnormally high in 4 of 5 dogs tested. Percutaneous ultrasound-guided liver biopsies were performed in 10 dogs, and findings were nonspecific and chronic in nature. Seven dogs were euthanized because of progressive liver failure, and their median survival from diagnosis of liver disease was 9 weeks. Three dogs died of other causes and 1 dog of unknown cause. Although clinical signs resolved in 3 dogs, biochemical abnormalities and histopathologic lesions persisted 4 to 38 months from the time of diagnosis of liver disease. Our findings suggest that CCNU can cause delayed, cumulative dose-related, chronic hepatotoxicity that is irreversible and can be fatal.