February 17, 2012 By: NCTechNews Category: Veterinary Technology
(Raleigh, N.C.) An innovative cancer treatment process improving survival rates for dogs could soon take the phrase “man’s best friend†to a whole new level, according to a research project funded by the AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF).
Through CHF’s support, Texas A&M University is continuing a ground-breaking lymphoma treatment therapy research project that uses laboratory expanded T-cells to help extend the lives of dogs that unfortunately develop cancer. Lymphoma is the most common form of canine cancer, accounting for up to 24 percent of all cancer cases diagnosed. It is rarely curable. Eighty percent of dogs typically live only 12 months or less after being diagnosed with lymphoma.
The pioneering process, designed by a team of scientists at Texas A&M and the University of Texas MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital in Houston, starts with taking a blood sample from the dog in order to expand T-cells, which are white blood cells critical for fighting off infection and controlling cancer. The T-cells are then infused back into the same dog following chemotherapy treatments to help rebuild the dog’s immune system. The hypothesis of these investigators was that the infused T-cells would wipe out any remaining cancer cells not eliminated during typical chemotherapy treatments. Early results have been encouraging.
“Our [T-cell] treated dogs had a tumor-free survival (first remission) almost five times longer [than dogs that received only chemotherapy treatments],†said Texas A&M’s Heather Wilson, DVM, leader in the next phase of the canine T-cell project that is being funded by CHF.
Dogs are genetically closer to humans than humans are to mice, which are commonly used for pre-clinical studies. In companion dogs, the tumors develop spontaneously in the presence of an intact immune system due to the same environmental etiologies and genetic abnormalities as human cancer. Thus, what is learnt in dogs with cancer may be applied to humans with cancer. Given the promising results with dogs, a similar innovative immunotherapy process is currently in clinical trials to help treat human cancer patients at MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital, under the direction of Dr. Laurence Cooper.
In the canine studies, “We followed the same rigid standards we practice for human clinical trials at MD Anderson to ensure the safety of each dog,†said Dr. Cooper, professor and section chief of cell therapy at the children’s hospital. “It’s a win-win for dog and human patients. While these pets are benefiting from the T-cell infusions, this collaboration with Texas A&M is a driving force for undertaking similar clinical trials in humans.â€
The outlook for using the process to treat humans is promising. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has approved trials using T-cell immunotherapy to treat humans for lymphoma. New trials stemming from this research are forthcoming.
“Treating dogs with cancer provides us with a great comparative oncology model for humans,†said Colleen O’Connor, Ph.D., post-doctoral fellow at MD Anderson. “We learned important details about the interaction between chemotherapy and tumor cells that can be harnessed to improve the body’s anti-tumor immune response. This is something we hadn’t appreciated thus far from our clinical research in humans.â€
“We are very excited by the collaboration between Texas A&M and MD Anderson Cancer Center, to help dogs, as well as humans, live longer, healthier lives,†says CHF Chief Scientific Officer Shila Nordone, Ph.D. “As a foundation, we are committed to funding research that will prevent and treat canine cancer. This collaboration also underscores the important role that veterinary biomedical research plays in human translational medical research. It is likely through using naturally occurring veterinary disease models we will be able to identify new therapeutics and treatments more quickly and for far less money than when we use traditional research approaches.â€
The CHF-funded project at Texas A&M is sponsored by the American German Shepherd Dog Charitable Foundation, American Miniature Schnauzer Club, American Shetland Sheepdog Association, Central New Jersey Hound Association, English Setter Association of America, English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association, German Wirehaired Pointer Club of America, Golden Retriever Foundation and Otterhound Club of America.
If interested in making contributions directly for canine health research like the innovative cancer therapy research being done at Texas A&M, visit the CHF website at www.akcchf.org and click on the “Donate Today†button or text “dog†to 20222 to make a $ 5 donation.
CHF is a non-profit organization dedicated to funding research to prevent, treat and cure canine disease. Visit CHF online at www.akcchf.org for more information about the Foundation. Like CHF at www.facebook.com/akccaninehealthfoundation or follow CHF on Twitter at @CanineHealthFnd.
About CHF
The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping dogs live longer, healthier lives by funding research that helps prevent, treat and cure canine disease. Established in 1995, CHF’s mission is to advance the health of all dogs and their owners by funding sound scientific research and supporting the dissemination of canine health information. Through the generous support of the American Kennel Club, Nestlé Purina PetCare, Pfizer Animal Health, dog clubs and dog owners worldwide, CHF has dedicated more than $ 33.2 million to canine health research projects and education programs. Visit CHF online at www.akcchf.org for more information
Flea control is a challenge for most pet owners. Surveys show that as many as 50% of American families report using some kind of flea and tick control product on pets, exposing millions of pets (and children) to flea control chemicals on a daily basis.
Lawn fertilizers are often combined with herbicides, commonly referred to as ‘weed n’ feed’. In a 1991 study published in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute, a link was found between the herbicide 2, 4-D and malignant lymphoma in dogs and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in people. According to the study, “researchers report that dogs were two times more likely to develop lymphoma if their owners sprayed or sprinkled the 2,4-D herbicide on the lawn four or more times a year. And even with just one application a season, the cancer risk was one-third higher than among dogs whose owners did not use the chemical.â€
Herbicides, insecticide baits, sprays and granules are often used in gardens without consideration of the effects these chemicals may have on pets. Slug and snail baits containing metaldehyde are toxic, and can be lethal, to dogs if ingested. Metaldehyde toxicity causes rapid onset of neurological symptoms that can be fatal if untreated. Signs of poisoning begin within one to four hours of exposure. Repeated seizures due to metaldehyde poisoning can elevate body temperature, which can lead to complications similar to those observed in pets suffering from heatstroke. Affected pets usually require hospitalization for 24 to 72 hours after metaldehyde ingestion.
De-icing salts used to melt snow and ice pose a hazard to pets. When dogs lick their paws after having walked on surfaces treated with de-icing salts they may become sick. This limited exposure can lead to short-lived sickness such as hypersalivating, nausea and vomiting. Larger ingestions, according to the ASPCA, can lead to an increase in the blood’s electrolyte levels, weakness, lethargy, moderate irritation to the oral and gastrointestinal system, and even tremors. De-icing salts can also cause burns, cracks and skin irritations on dogs’ paw pads.
Most antifreeze formulations in use today contain ethylene glycol as the principal ingredient. The sweet smell of ethylene glycol attracts animals, but it is deadly if ingested even in small amounts. As little as half a teaspoon of spilled antifreeze can kill an average-sized cat, and eight ounces can kill a 75-pound dog. Unless you catch it early, the damage to pets’ kidneys can be irreversible. Spilled or leaked antifreeze also washes into rivers and lakes, harming fish and other wildlife.
According to the EPA, 50% of all illness can be traced to indoor pollution, which can be directly related to the use of household cleaners. The National Center for Health Sciences says “… perhaps the most serious exposure is to modern household cleaners, which may contain a number of proven and suspect causes of cancer.†Cleaning products with ingredients such as bleach, ammonia, chlorine, glycol ethers or formaldehyde can put pets at risk for cancer, anemia, liver and kidney damage.
Formaldehyde is present in many new home furnishings, household cleaners and some construction materials. It is considered toxic if inhaled or absorbed through the skin. According to the EPA, formaldehyde has been shown to cause cancer in animals.
Mothballs, when used properly, are effective at killing moths. But used carelessly, they pose a hidden health threat to pets. Inhalation of mothball vapors causes headaches, respiratory distress, eye irritation and many other symptoms. Ingestion causes toxic poisoning leading to liver damage, respiratory failure, seizures, heart arrhythmia, and the possibility of death. The ingestion of just one mothball can produce significant illness. Repeated inhalation of fumes or ingestion of a few mothballs can be fatal to cats and dogs.