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Treatment Centers
UCLA and Veterinary Centers of America Open Cancer Care Center For Dogs and Cats
A veterinary radiology center for pets with cancer is available in Southern California through UCLA. Few veterinary clincs are able to offer this therapy as a treatment.
The Story
MORE INFO:
Science/Research
Gene Therapy Showing Promise in Fighting Canine Melanoma
A University of Wisconsin-Madison research team is having success with a gene therapy cancer vaccine they have developed. As of late 1998, there are few, if any, treatment options for melanoma.
The Story
MORE INFO:
Gregory MacEwen, (608) 263-9815
maceweng@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu
Oral Melanoma Study at University of Wisconsin-Madison
A team of scientists is getting closer to releasing the results of their study on a treatment to boost a dog's immune system so it can fight a cancer of the mouth -- malignant oral melanoma, according to the Morris Animal Foundation.
"The study is providing enccouraging results to date, with a relevant number of the participating dogs appearing to be in remission from cancer or having extended life spans resulting from the immunotherapy treatment," said Dr. E. Gregory MacEwen, lead investigator, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine.
The final results are now being evaluated. "We look forward to releasing the findings of this study next year," said Dr. MacEwen.
Malignant oral melanoma aggressively spreds and establishes itself in other places in the dog's body, most commonly in the lungs and in the regional lymph nodes where the tumor grows. Despite surgery to remove these cancerous tumors, within two years as many as 90 percent of affected dogs will die from the spread of the cancer, reports the Foundation.
Dr. MacEwen and associates from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, are collaborating with a team of veterinarians from five areas in the United States in the study. Funding for the study is provided by the Morris Animal Foundation.
According to Dr. MacEwen, oral melanoma is common in dogs with dark pigmentation inside their mouths, such as German shepherds and cocker spaniels.
Previous studies indicate that 10- to 12-year-old males are at highest risk of getting malignant oral melanoma.
Dr. MacEwen study focuses on a new therapy following tumor removal to aid the dog's body in fighting off the spread of cancer. The treatment seeks to improve the immune system's ability to combat cancer that invades the body.
This immunotherapy, called "liposome encapsulated drug and growth factor," activates the cells of the immune system and causes activation in other disease fighting immune cells to ward off cancer.
Dogs with naturally occuring malignant melanoma are participating in this study with the consent and participation of their owners, says the Morris Animal Foundation.
These dogs are patients being treated at the veterinary hospitals at the University of California at Davis, University of Florida, Washington State University, Oakland Veterinary Referral Services in Michigan, and Veterinary Specialists in New York.
MORE INFO:
Morris Animal Foundation
http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/
Radioactive Beads Latest Weapon In Fighting Cancer In Dogs, Cats
For some people, a string of beads is a fashion statement. For your dog or cat, they may be the difference between life or death.
When surgery can't be performed or isn't enough to remove cancerous tumors, veterinarians at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine are using a new, implantable radiation treatment.
According to Dr. Ruthanne Chun, assistant professor of clinical sciences at K-State, brachytherapy is for dogs or cats that have certain tumors that aren't likely to spread to other parts of their body.
"Brachytherapy is something we've tried do more and more of here," Chun said. "There are maybe two or three other veterinary colleges that do it, so we are really riding the edge of that wave in being able to offer this service."
After as much of the tumor as possible is removed, a hollow,sterile plastic tube called an "after-loading tube" is sutured into the tumor bed. After the wound is closed, Chun said the radioactive beads are "essentially strung together on a plastic wire" and "fed" into the after-loading tubes. Once clamped in place, they begin to emit a set amount of radiation into the tumor bed.
"We know from past experience how much of a dose, how much radiation, a tumor needs to be effectively treated," Chun said. "We can calculate roughly how much radiation per day the tumor bed is receiving. After it has gotten its set dose, we sedate the animals, remove the tubes and the beads and they're done with their therapy."
Because the beads provide a continuous, low level dose of radiation, animals must be kept in isolation. Chun said owners are not allowed to visit their pets while they are receiving brachytherapy. The pets may still be allowed to go outside but must be kept away from other animals. They must also be handled only by veterinarians licensed to work with radioactive substances.
Chun said the treatment is, in some ways "much nicer" than conventional forms of radiation therapy. Animals do not have have anesthesia multiple times and the duration of the therapy is much shorter than with conventional therapy.
"For conventional radiation therapy, the animal has to lie still, requiring daily anesthesia anywhere from 10 to 15, or 20 times -- depending on what type of tumor it is," Chun said. "And the costs really add up when you have to anesthetize the animal each time and allow time for recovery. It's much harder on the animal than doing the implant therapy."
Chun said not all tumors can receive the implant, but that it is a good treatment option for a lot of different tumors.
"It seems to be as successful as more conventional forms of therapy," Chun said. "But we need two or three years from now before we can say our dogs have survived as long as, if not longer than, dogs treated with other forms of radiation."
MORE INFO:
Dr. Ruthanne Chun, 785-532-5690
Kansas State University
Research on Canine Lymphoma
Scientists studying lymphoma in dogs are hoping that their work will achieve a minimum 25 percent cure rate for the deadly cancer and preliminary results look promising.
Drs. Anthony Abrams-Ogg and Stephen A. Kruth from the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph and Alan M. Norris at the Veterinary Referral Clinic in Mississauga, Ontario, are conducting the three-year study, "Half-Body Radiotherapy Versus Maintenance Chemotherapy for Treating Canine Lymphoma in Remission."
The study involves analyzing the effects of two radiation treatments on tumor response and quality of life of dogs with lymphoma.
"We are hoping to achieve the 25 percent cure rate already reported for total body irradiation while avoiding marrow transplantation," said Dr. Abrams-Ogg. "Half-body irradiation is a relatively simple and inexpensive therapy and side-effectsare mild."
Lymphoma is the most common malignancy of canine lymphoid tissue with an annual incidence estimated at 13-24 out of 100,000 dogs.
In fact, lymphoma represents up to 24 percent of all canine tumors. Remission of varying durations can be achieved with chemotherapy, according to the Morris Animal Foundation, but average survival is short. Without treatment, lymphoma usually results in natural death or euthanasia within one to two months of the onset of clinical signs.
The disease is often responsive to chemotherapy, and 60-90 percent of dogs who receive chemotherapy achieve remission. Lymphoma can be cured in 25 percent of cases of dogs who receive radiation treatment over their entire body once remission is induced with chemotherapy, but transient bone marrow failure occurs necessitating a marrow transplant.
The investigators, funded by the Morris Animal Foundation,are comparing traditional maintenance chemotherapy treatment against radiation of only half the body at a time.
The therapy should also increase the quality of life for dogs with lymphoma and enhance owner convenience by reducing the number of hospital visits. Preliminary findings have proved positive. The study ends in late 1999.
MORE INFO:
Morris Animal Foundation:
http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/
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Feeding Your Dog
Pet Food For Dogs Undergoing Cancer Treatment
Cancer is not only the leading cause of non-accidental death in dogs but nearly half of all dogs over age 10 die from cancer.
Now there is a pet food that is becoming a critical component of caring for canine cancer patients.
Hill's Pet Nutrition has introduced Hill's Prescription Diet(R) Canine n/d, the only therapeutic pet food clinically proven to increase the survival time of dogs undergoing cancer treatment, according to Hill's.
The food has also been shown to improve a dog's quality of life by helping reverse the harmful metabolic abnormalities created by cancer in the body. Prescription Diet Canine n/d is formulated with high levels of n-3 fatty acids and arginine, as well as a patented nutrient profile, proven to fight the adverse effects of cancer and cancer therapy.
More than a decade of research with Colorado State University's Comparative Oncology Unit and Hill's resulted in the formulation.
Meeting The Nutritional Needs of Dogs With Cancer
Listed below are general guidelines from veterinary oncologists at the University of Pennsylvania to meet the needs of dogs with cancer, but owners of such dogs are cautioned that every patient is different and requires individualized care and attention. No one thing will work in for every animal.
1. Resist the temptation to coax a pet to eat when he or she is feeling or showing overt signs of nausea or discomfort. Pets that gulp or drool at the sight or smell of food, turn their heads away, spit out food when placed in the mouth, or bury the food under their bedding should be left alone.
2. Discuss the possibility of anti-emetic drugs with your veterinarian if you think nausea and vomiting are a problem.
3. Also discuss the use of tube feeding. Many factors must be considered when deciding whether a pet is a candidate for nutritional support. These techniques are not appropriate or feasible for every pet, but can be used successfully in many cases.
4. A few drugs have been used to stimulate the appetite. According to UP experts, these drugs are best used in helping patients get over learned food aversions AFTER they have begun to feel better.
5. If your pet is showing some interest in food, try novel food items. If your pet has begun to associate a previously favorite food with unpleasant sensations, introducing a very different type of food may overcome the aversion to eating. This can backfire if the patient is still unwell, since the aversion may simply transfer to the new food. Remember that table foods will not provide all of the nutrients that a pet needs. If a pet eats an exclusively home-cooked diet for any period of time, you should get some advice on how to make that diet more complete and balanced.
6. Try offering food in a novel setting or have someone different do the feeding. Sometimes an animal will associate its surroundings with past unpleasant experiences.
7. Remember that dogs are social animals and may be more likely to eat with their pack -- which includes you! Coaxing a dog to eat during family mealtimes or with other pets present might be successful.
8. Try not to schedule mealtimes at the same time that you do other treatments,such as pilling. Avoid pushing food on your pet. Stroke and talk to your pet with food nearby and watch for any signs of interest.
9. Divide the day's food into as many small meals as your schedule will permit. The food ingredients that increase palatability are moisture, fat, and protein. Adding water to a dry pet food or switching to canned food may improve food acceptance. A pet's tolerance of certain nutrients must be considered when trying new foods. Animals with kidney or liver dysfunction may not tolerate high protein intake. Animals with some types of gastrointestinal disease cannot tolerate large amounts of dietary fat.
10. The standard advice for getting anorexic pets to eat has been to warm foods to just below body temperature. This is believed to increase the aroma of food, which in turn will enhance taste. Recently, there is some evidence that this might be counterproductive in animals that are exhibiting food aversion. This makes sense, since these patients may be hungry but have learned to associate certain smells or flavors with feeling badly. In these cases, offering food at room temperature or even chilled may meet withmore success.
Because the syndrome of cancer cachexia (profound weight loss) can involve more than decreased food intake, even the best efforts in encouraging a pet to eat may not prevent weight loss.
Meeting the basic nutritional needs of a cancer patient can be a significant challenge. In human cancer patients, it is known that malnutrition can increase the risk of complications and decrease survival rates. Patients with good nutritional status have an improved response to therapy and better quality of life. While the effects of malnutrition have not as yet been studied in veterinary patients, it seems likely that the results would be similar.
MORE INFO:
The oncology site of the University of Pennsylvania at:
http://www.oncolink.upenn.edu/specialty/vet_onc/
Holistic/Natural
Aloe Vera: Nothing Beats It
Did you know that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has already licensed the use of aloe vera to treat cancer in dogs and cats?
While aloe vera can be injected into animals as a treatment for cancer, its use in humans has been restricted to ointments and lotions that are applied to the skin.
With one exception, said Texas A&M veterinary pathobiologist Ian Tizard, nothing on the market can accelerate wound-healing faster than aloe vera. "The only treatment that beats aloe vera are expensive growth factors, he said.
Tizard is conducting research on Aloe vera, which he said also demonstrates an almost total lack of toxicity, appears to hold great wound-healing benefits for the elderly, may lower cholesterol levels, reduce inflammation resulting from radiation therapy during cancer treatment, and increase the production of blood vessels.
MORE INFO:
Dr. Ian Tizard, (409) 845-4276.
Canine Cancer Survivor is Pet Therapist Helping Kids With Cancer
Dani is no ordinary dog.
It's not just the Santa suit or reindeer antlers that set this beagle apart -- she is a cancer survivor and an inspiration to the young patients in the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she's worked as a therapy dog since June 1997.
Dani began her tenure at the center when her owner, Lauri Seamark, joined the staff as a child-life specialist. Dani's gentle, easy-going personality made her the perfect dog for the job, waiting patiently as young chemotherapy patients brushed her fur, painted her toenails and dressed her in various outfits. Just four months into her new duties, however, Dani was to experience what these youngsters already knew all too well -- cancer.
In October 1997, Lauri discovered a large lump on Dani's right back leg during a bath prior to her weekly visit to the center. After consultation with her veterinarian, Lauri scheduled Dani for surgery to remove the tumor, a mastocytoma that proved to be malignant. Subsequently, Dani embarked on a year of oral chemotherapy.
Ironically, Dani's medications -- leukoran and predisone -- are the same as those prescribed for children with leukemia and produced similar side effects. Just like the youngsters she visited, Dani experienced increased hunger and weight gain. Her appointments to the vet began with the routine blood draws the children knew so well. She had to avoid the park, where she might pick up "doggie diseases."
"The children began to identify with Dani, and they asked all sorts of questions," said Lauri. "One girl asked me if Dani was scared when she had her tumor removed. I knew she was really asking for herself, to know if it was okay for her to be scared too."
With Lauri's skillful handling, Dani became a model patient for every emotion the children experienced. The dog's "feelings" of fear, anger or excitement came to mirror their own, explained Lauri, "It really helped the kids to process their own emotions."
Lauri recalled a ride in the elevator with Dani and a child undergoing treatment at the center. Someone entered the elevator, exclaiming, "What a fat dog!" The child spoke up in Dani's defense: "You shouldn't say something like that if you don't know someone's situation!"
It was a gratifying experience for Lauri, who knew the
child probably wouldn't have felt comfortable speaking up for herself, but for Dani it was a different story. The beagle has had a similar effect on hospital staff and adults at the outpatient treatment facility. In fact, the center's nursing staff presented Dani with an award for "Boosting Morale" (plus a rawhide wreath) this December.
The Santa suit she wore for the occasion was a gift from one of the young patients.
Most encouraging -- for Lauri and Dani's many friends -- is that she completed her chemotherapy Nov. 18, and her prognosis is excellent. The day after her final treatment, Dani was the guest of honor at a party hosted by staff and patients replete with party hats and horns, a dog-bone-shaped cake and variety of gifts. "If she smelled food inside the package, she just shredded the paper -- the kids really got a kick out of that," remembered Lauri.
For both Lauri and Dani, the last year has been filled with trials and tribulations as well as triumphs.
"At first, I felt the whole situation was so unfair," said Lauri. "It was hard on me because it seemed like my whole life was about cancer, at work and at home. But then I realized there was a positive side, and that so many people empathized with Dani."
Dani's saga can also be an inspiration to dog owners who may face a similar crisis with their pet's health, Lauri added. "It's good for them to know there can be happy endings."
With chemo behind her, Dani is back to being a normal beagle -- her energy level is up and she's in good spirits. Lauri has just one new observation: "Dani is probably the most spoiled dog in the world!"
But no one would argue the fact that Dani is a dog worth spoiling.
MORE INFO:
Sandra Van
sandy@vancommunications.com
1-800-396-1002
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
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