CCNU for Canine Lymphoma  CCNU for Canine Lymphoma   Dear
OncoLink "Ask The Experts,"  My 11 yr-old Yorkshire Terrier has
T-cell lymphoma. He was treated with the Wisconsin protocol and
has gone into remission. Our oncologist is suggesting we start a
pill called CCNU or Lomustine for the next 12 weeks. I have read
about this medication and am concerned about the side effects.
What can you tell me about it?    CCNU, also known as lomustine,
is an oral alkylating chemotherapy drug similar to
cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan). It is commonly used in the treatment
of lymphomas and mast cell tumors in dogs. It is a conventional
chemotherapy drug, and the primary side effect is bone marrow
suppression (it does not have cardiac toxicity). It has an added
advantage of being one of the few chemotherapy drugs that
crosses the blood-brain barrier, meaning that it can attack
cancer cells that may be hiding in the brain, spinal cord, and
cerebrospinal fluid compartments of the body. CCNU is no more or
less "toxic" than the chemo