Preliminary evaluation of serum total cholesterol concentrations in dogs with osteosarcoma

OBJECTIVES: To determine if total serum cholesterol concentrations were altered in dogs with osteosarcoma. To evaluate association of total serum cholesterol concentration with clinical outcomes in dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective, multi-institutional study on 64 dogs with osteosarcoma. Control population consisted of dogs with traumatic bone fractures (n=30) and healthy patients of similar age and weight as those of the osteosarcoma cases (n=31). Survival analysis was done on 35 appendicular osteosarcoma patients that received the current standard of care. Statistical associations were assessed by univariable and multi-variable analysis. Information about age, sex, primary tumour location, total cholesterol concentration, monocytes and lymphocyte counts and alkaline phosphatase were also included. RESULTS: Total cholesterol was elevated above the reference interval (3.89 to 7.12 mmol/L) (150 to 275 mg/dL) in 29 of 64 (45.3%) osteosarcoma-bearing dogs, whereas similar elevations were found in only 3 of 30 (10%) fracture controls (P<0.0001) and 2 of 31 (6.5%) similar age/weight controls (P=0.0002). Elevated total cholesterol was significantly associated with a reduced hazard ratio (0.27, P=0.008) for overall mortality in dogs with osteosarcoma. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: These results suggest that elevated total cholesterol is associated with canine osteosarcoma and may have prognostic significance.