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Current Clinical Trials, Studies & Grants
According to Dr. Kevin Hahn, Medical Oncologist,
Gulf Coast Veterinary Oncologists, "the treatment of cancer in animals
utilizes many of the same methods available in human medicine. Chemotherapy,
radiation therapy, hypothermia, immunotherapy and photodynamic therapy are
all part of the arsenal assembled to fight cancer in the pet animal. Most
clinical research trials investigating new methods of cancer diagnosis or
treatment are conducted at colleges of veterinary medicine.
Although
considered "experimental", effectiveness of the treatment has been proven in
laboratory animals, safety has been demonstrated in normal dogs or cats, and
the therapy is considered to be of potential benefit to the patient.
Patients entering a clinical trial must be carefully monitored. Adherence to
the treatment protocol is of vital importance to the veterinarian, the pet
owner, and to future pets with cancer to ensure that the best in therapy and
patient care is available.
When a patient treated in a clinical trial dies,
a necropsy (autopsy) must be conducted to know the entire effect of the
treatment; positive and negative. Many naturally occurring cancers in pet
animals closely resemble human cancer and provide meaningful systems for
cancer research to benefit both man and animals. The veterinary facility
providing the clinical trial, with owner's permission, may provide specimens
obtained from the patient (blood, urine, and/or tumor samples) to basic
researchers to gain additional information that may benefit present and
future cancer patients.
It is important to remember, research is not
conducted on the pet itself. If you believe your pet with cancer might
benefit from participating in a clinical trial or you would like additional
information regarding a specific clinical trial, please check out the
following Clinical Trial links.
 AMC Cancer Research
Center
Animal Cancer
Center at Colorado State University Ongoing Clinical Trials
Animal
Clinical Investigations
Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine
Canine Health Foundation Research
and
Searchable Grants
Database
Comparative Oncology Trials Consortium
Colorado
State College of Veterinary Medicine: Animal Cancer Center
Gulf
Coast Veterinary Oncology Specialists Clinical Trials
Louisiana State University
Cancer Treatment Center
Modiano Lab of AMC Cancer Research Center &
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
 Focus of Research
Immune Cell Activation
Cancer
Genetics
Canine Cancer Projects
Gene Therapy and
Immunotherapy
Diagnostic and
Therapeutic Development
Collaborators
Genetics of Lymphoma
Genetics of Osteosarcoma
Genetics of Leukemia
Early Diagnosis of
Hemangiosarcoma
Malignant Histiocytosis
In the Bernese Mountain Dog
Clinical Trials
Available through the Animal Cancer Institute, LLC
Genetics of Canine
Osteosarcoma in Large and Giant Breed Dogs
Morris
Animal Foundation Current Cancer Studies
North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine
Ohio State University Veterinary
Teaching Hospital
The Animal Medical Center
University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital
Clinical Trials
University of Missouri-Columbia College of Veterinary
Medicine-Oncology
University of Wisconsin-Madison
School of Veterinary Medicine Trials
Veterinary
Cooperative Oncology Group
Bone Marrow
Transplants thru Dr. Sullivan at the Bellingham Veterinary & Critical Care Centre
— Dr. Ed Sullivan, a veterinarian at the Bellingham Veterinary Critical Care Centre,
located in Bellingham, Washington, has been extraordinary at "pushing the
envelope", trying to get treatment for desperately sick animals. He has been working
with the researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre, located in Seattle,
Washington, a world renowned facility for cancer treatment.
NOV 25, 2007 UPDATE from
Dr. Sullivan:
Bone marrow transplantation using hematopoietic stem cells (stem
cells that can differentiate into all blood cell lines) has long
been used in human medicine to treat many otherwise fatal
malignancies and other bone marrow disorders. Much of the
pioneering research that made transplantation possible was completed
with dogs over 30 years ago, and although the techniques were well
described, they were not developed for use in dogs as patients due
to the costs and complexities of the procedures. Recent
scientific discoveries involving the identification of donor
recipient pairs, as well as the availability of
sophisticated veterinary supportive care, coupled with the desire of
pet owners to seek treatments for traditionally incurable
conditions, has created an environment in which bone marrow
transplantation (hematopoietic stem cell transplants--HSCT) for dogs
with naturally occurring diseases is feasible.
Our work over the last four years has focused on
the practical application of HSCT for dogs with lymphoma, leukemia,
multiple myeloma, malignant histiocytosis, and other bone marrow
diseases. There are two main types of transplants, one using the
patient's own stem cells to reconstitute the bone marrow after
chemotherapy and total body irradiation--an autologous transplant.
The second type--an allogeneic transplant--uses stem cells from a
donor that has matching major histocompatibility complex
antigens--in dogs known as dog leukocyte antigens, or DLA--to
reconstitute the bone marrow. Both types of transplants have the
potential to achieve a cure, however, they also have pros and cons
that can make one option more desirable over the other. In most
situations, it is best to plan for both procedures, then chose one
when it is determined whether or not a donor can be found.
Some procedures are completed in preparation of
both types of transplants. These include complete staging of the
disease (with lymphoma the subtype, B or T cell) as well as the
degree of organ involvement. It is also important that a tumor
sample sent to us before chemotherapy has started so we can identify
the tumor clone, using flow cytometry and gene rearrangements. This
information will be used to confirm remission prior to the
transplant as well as for monitoring for relapse of disease after
the transplant. Additionally, a large tumor sample (5gm or more)
can be used produce an anti-tumor vaccine (either whole cell or
anti-idiotype for B Cell lymphoma) that can be used after the
transplant to increase an anti tumor immune response. Some of these
tumor cells will also be set up in cell culture as well as
cryopreserved for future use in generating additional vaccine.
After initial staging and submission of tumor
samples to the lab, chemotherapy can be started. Any standard
induction protocol can be used, and after 8 weeks of therapy, we
take blood and lymph node samples to confirm remission. During this
time an effort to find any donors is made--it is important to do
this quickly, as it can take a long time to find the potential
donors and speak with them about participating in a transplant.
If a suitable donor is identified, then an
allogeneic transplant is scheduled three weeks after the last dose
of chemotherapy. If no donor is found, then an autologous
transplant is scheduled.
To date, we have completed three allogeneic
transplants and three autologous transplants. Two of the allogeneic
patients are long term disease free survivors (one is 4 years since
the original diagnosis and the second is just over 2 years since the
original diagnosis). A third allogeneic patient relapsed and died
with disease progression after 20 months. One of the autologous
transplant patients died with disease progression shortly after the
transplant--she was on the third relapse at the time, and we were
only hoping to rescue her until a donor could be found. A second
autologous dog had relapse of disease 13 months after the initial
diagnosis, however, he went back into remission with chemotherapy
and is currently in remission with stable disease. The third
autologous patient has just recently been completed--so far it is
going well, but it is too soon to know the outcome.
In the future, it may be possible to complete allogeneic transplants
in combination with a tumor vaccine to treat other types of cancer.
In this scenario, an allogeneic transplant is done followed by
vaccination of the donor with a killed, whole cell tumor vaccine.
Once the donor exhibits an immune response to the vaccine,
lymphocytes are collected from the donor and given to the recipient
(the recipient already is engrafted with hematopoietic stem cells
from the donor). These stimulated lymphocytes potentially will
mobilize the new immune system in the recipient to recognize the
original tumor as abnormal and eliminate it. This scenario is
currently being tested in our facility.
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If you have a dog with lymphoma, or know of one, they may be eligible for this treatment.
This is a fantastic breakthrough. Dr. Sullivan is also trying to set up funding so that
those in need of financial assistance, can afford treatment. You or your veterinarian can
call the Bellingham Veterinary and Critical Care Centre, at 360-734-0720. They are located
at 720 Virginia Street, Bellingham, WA USA, 98225.
Dog Disease Research at the Broad Institute
Now that The Broad Institute has the dog genome sequence, they are putting it to
use. The goal is to understand – and ultimately treat – the genetic causes of
disease in dogs as well as their human companions. This important research
cannot proceed without the dog community's participation. The Broad Institute
needs DNA samples from purebred dogs suffering from the diseases they are
studying (described below), as well as from older, healthy dogs from the breeds
they are studying.
Sending DNA
samples
Information for
veterinarians
More information on the
Institute's research
Printable
brochure (PDF) Cancers: Cancer affects 30-50% of all
dogs. A higher incidence in certain breeds suggests that genetic risk factors
exist and can be identified. Many dog cancers are clinically similar to human
cancers, including several that they are working on.
Osteosarcoma (Bone cancer): Osteosarcoma is the most
common bone tumor of dog. This cancer develops in the bone, usually the
limbs, and as the tumor grows it becomes progressively more painful for the
dog and can result in lameness. Often these tumors metastasize to the lungs.
Giant breeds are at the greatest risk for developing osteosarcomas. Breeds
needed for study: Rottweilers, Greyhounds, Mastiffs, Leonbergers, Golden
Retrievers, Irish Wolfhounds, Great Pyrenees, Great Danes, Borzoi and
Scottish Deerhounds Hemangiosarcoma: Hemangiosarcomas are rapidly growing
and highly invasive, blood-fed tumors. Blood vessels grow from the tumor and
often cause death through excessive blood loss due to rupturing of the
tumor. Breeds needed for study: Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers,
Chinese Shar-Peis, Boxers, Pugs, and Rhodesian Ridgebacks Mast Cell Tumors (MCT): MCTs are cancerous
proliferations of mast cells. Although they can and will spread throughout
the body, the danger from MCTs comes from the secondary damage caused by the
release of chemicals the tumors produce. These chemicals can cause systemic
problems that include gastric ulcers, internal bleeding, and a range of
allergic manifestations. Breeds needed for study: Golden Retrievers,
Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Pugs, Shar-Peis and Boxers
Lymphoma: A cancer of the lymphocytes that can occur
in the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, and other organs. Characteristics are
high white blood cell count, swollen lymph glands, lethargy, and loss of
appetite. It is a treatable cancer, but if left untreated, it will
eventually lead to death. A number of B- and T-cell subtypes exist. Breeds
needed for study: Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Rottweilers and Boxers Mammary tumors: Tumors of the mammary gland are the
most common tumors found in unspayed female dogs. Several subtypes exist but
may segregate in the same families. Breeds needed for study: English
Springer Spaniels, Boxers and Cocker Spaniels Melanoma (skin cancer): Melanoma is a cancer of
melanocytes (the pigment-producing cells of the skin). Irregular cells
develop when the melanocytes erratically multiply and invade surrounding
tissue. Malignant melanomas can spread from the original tumor and travel
through the blood to other vessels and organs. Breeds needed for study:
Scottish Terriers, Cocker Spaniels, Labrador Retrievers, Rottweilers, and
other breeds.
The Golden Retriever Club of
America has designed a
page with cancer research contact
information. It is a great item to print out and have placed
in your dog's veterinary chart.
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For You & Yours
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