The University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center is seeking dogs with cancer for a clinical trial to treat cachexia, a wasting syndrome that causes one-third of cancer deaths. File photo by Rich Sugg rsugg@kcstar.com
Mizzou seeks canine cancer patients for clinical trials
By Andy Marso
amarso@kcstar.com
The University of Missouri’s Veterinary Health Center is seeking cancer-stricken canines to test a drug researchers hope will let dogs — and maybe someday humans — live longer.
The university is running clinical trials in partnership with Tensive Controls Inc. on a medication for cachexia, a wasting syndrome that causes about one-third of cancer deaths.
Cachexia occurs with advanced cancers, causes loss of appetite and can lead to multiorgan failure.
“The clinical trial is targeting a disease that significantly decreases quality of life,” said Sandra Bechtel, the Missouri professor who is leading the study. “We are working to improve end-stage quality of life for our veterinary patients with the hopes of translating the improvements to human patients.”
The trial is being conducted at the Veterinary Health Center’s Small Animal Hospital
To inquire about enrolling a dog, call 573-882-7821 and ask to speak to Deb Tate or Bechtel, or email Tate at tated@missouri.edu or Bechtel at bechtels@missouri.edu.
source: Kansas City News
Memphis — Team Maddox
Upcoming PuppyUp Walks in April and May
PuppyUp Memphis
Sunday, April 30, 2017
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Overton Park
Rainbow Lake Pavilion
2080 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38112
General Inquiries, Sponsorship or Vendor Inquiries, and Volunteer Opportunities please email memphis@puppyup.org
For details, follow this link.
PuppyUp Madison
Sunday, May 7, 2017
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
McKee Farms Park
2930 Chapel Valley Road
Fitchburg, WI
General Inquiries: madison@puppyup.org
Sponsorship or Vendor Inquiries: madisonsponsorship@puppyup.org
Volunteer Opportunities: madisonvolunteers@puppyup.org
For details, follow this link.
To find out more about ALL the Puppy Up Walks, and how you and your dog can participate, please click here.
Walks are being added around the country. If you don’t see a Walk in your area, please contact us to find out how you can start one in your city or town.
Photo: Dr. Doug Thamm examines Jake, a labrador that took part in VetDC’s Tanovea clinical trials at the Flint Animal Cancer Center at CSU. Courtesy John Eisele/ CSU.
VetDC starts selling drug to treat lymphoma in dogs
By Doug Storum — April 4, 2017
Source.
FORT COLLINS — VetDC, a veterinary cancer-therapeutics company based in Fort Collins, said Monday that it has begun selling its drug that treats lymphoma in dogs to licensed veterinarians in the United States.
Steven Roy, VetDC’s president and chief executive, said the company activated its ordering platform last week.
“Orders started coming in immediately from clinics that had been following the clinical trials,” Roy said. “There is a pent-up demand for this this type of drug.”
Piramal Pharma Solutions Inc. in Lexington, Kentucky, is manufacturing the drug for VetDC. Piramal will be able to ramp up production to match orders as they come in, Roy said.
The drug is sold to veterinary clinics in a powder form that is reconstituted to a liquid. It is administered intravenously for 30 minutes per session.
“We believe Tanovea-CA1 represents a significant breakthrough in the rapidly evolving field of veterinary oncology, said Dr. Terry Opgenorth, vice president of CSU Ventures and a co-founder of VetDC.
Dr. Craig Clifford, a veterinary oncologist and clinical investigator at Hope Veterinary Specialists in Malvern, Pa., said, based on first-hand experience as part of clinical trials, the drug has the potential to become a cornerstone for the treatment of lymphoma in dogs.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine in January granted conditional approval for the drug, two months after VetDC filed an application.
Eighteen-year-old Emma and 16-year-old Noah Heezen are anything but average teenagers. In their free time, they’re doing research on cancerous tumors.
Teen Siblings Team Up With Father, DWU To Research Cure For Cancer In Dogs
March 31, 2017 Jill Johnson
From KDLT News
PLANKINTON, S.D. – Two South Dakota teens are showing us that anything is possible with hard work. A brother and sister from Plankinton have been working together to try to cure cancer in man’s best friend. They’ve had some amazing results, earning them recognition and even scholarship money at a South Dakota University.
Eighteen-year-old Emma and 16-year-old Noah Heezen are anything but average teenagers. In their free time, they’re doing research on cancerous tumors.
Plankinton High School Sophomore Noah Heezen said, “I’m like really excited because you don’t think you’re going to cure cancer when you’re a kid doing science fairs.”
The high schoolers got started after their dog got sick. Instead of chemotherapy, their mom Angie looked for an alternative.
“Dogs don’t understand living until the next birthday or the next Christmas and that’s what chemotherapy does for a person it just prolongs your life and doesn’t give them a better quality of life,” said Plankinton High School Senior Emma Heezen.
‘Sassy’ was fed canned asparagus. Within months their father Jason, who is a local veterinarian, noticed that the tumor was gone. That’s when the teens started looking at another alternative… a plant called Sweet Wormwood.
Emma said, “Cancer cells are really attracted to iron and so mixed with the iron, the Wormwood is poisonous to the cancer cells.”
In 15 of their father’s patients, only one died. The cause was unrelated.
“At their six month check-up all of them didn’t have cancer anymore and they had like, way improved quality of life,” said Emma.
The teens then started working with Dakota Wesleyan University, testing neuroblastoma cells from rats. They saw a 85 to 90 percent kill rate in the cancerous cells.
“We had a scientist that was with us the whole way, Dr. Paula Mazzer, and she saw the results.”
While the siblings hope more people become aware of their research, they also hope their research will inspire others.
Emma said, “Just definitely get out there and talk to people who maybe have connections or can help you in any sort of way because you never know what can happen.”
Based on their research, the teens were granted one of the top awards at the South Central Regional Science and Engineering Fair, earning them a $12,000 scholarship. They also have the opportunity to compete in Los Angeles at the International Fair in May.
Noah hopes to one day become an electrical engineer or neurologist, Emma a veterinarian.
Haley The Wonderdog
(By RD Moreno)
With a prognosis of 1-3 months, Haley the Wonderdog was one of fewer than 10% of dogs to survive hemangiosarcoma over one year, treated exclusively with gifts from nature. She even became a certified therapy dog after her diagnosis!
To help other dogs with cancer live better and longer, I started haleythewonderdog.com, a canine cancer site focusing on an integrative approach to care, including what worked for Haley, the latest news about canine cancer and resources that can help pet caregivers make the best decisions.
Your donation to Puppy Up helps fund cancer research so that all dogs can live life to their fullest.
(Haley was a contestant in the 2015 Puppy Up Calendar Contest.)
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