Oncology

Welcome to the Oncology Clinical Trials Page!

The following studies are currently recruiting patients.

Click on the study name for full information below:

1. LICKing Lymphoma: Ablation of tumor initiating cells by P-glycoprotein inhibition: Proof of principle study in canine diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
    
2. Safety of KPT-335 in dogs with spontaneous cancer used in the compassionate setting


3. Palladia/Piroxicam/Cyclophosphamide Therapy in Dogs with Osteosarcoma


4. OSAL: Safety and Tumor Response of Salmonella-IL2 in Combination with Adriamycin in Dogs with Appendicular Osteosarcoma

LICKing Lymphoma: Ablation of tumor initiating cells by P-glycoprotein inhibition: Proof of principle study in canine diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
 

Current Status: Active and recruiting
Principal Investigator: Jaime Modiano, VMD, PhD
Contact: Shane Smith, study technician: 612-624-1352 or smit472@umn.edu

We are looking for dogs recently diagnosed with or highly suspected of having lymphoma.  The purpose of this study is to determine if the addition of an experimental drug with chemotherapy may reduce or eliminate tumor-initiating cells by increasing their sensitivity to conventional chemotherapy.  

Dogs should have these qualifications: 

• body weight > 15kg (33 lbs) and < 40 kg (88 lbs)
• have not started chemotherapy or corticosteroids
• have adequate platelets (>= 100,000/ml)
• have adequate supply of blood cells (>= 30% packed cell volume)
• have no concurrent renal or hepatic disease, congestive heart failure or clinical coagulopathy
• have not had an excisional biopsy (we need to do here and we don't want to repeat unnecessarily

Excluded dog breeds due to special concerns: Rough and smooth collies, Shetland sheepdogs, Australian shepherds, boxers, Siberian huskies and Alaskan malamutes

Owners will elect conventional chemotherapy and be responsible for the screening appointment.  Once enrolled, the study covers the cost of the study drug or placebo, biopsies, blood sampling and subsequent chemotherapy up to a maximum of $2500. 

For more information please contact Dr. Modiano or Shane Smith (above).

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Safety of KPT-335 in dogs with spontaneous cancer used in the compassionate setting

Current Status: Active and recruiting
Principal Investigator: Antonella Borgatti, DVM, DACVIM, DECVIM-CA
Contact: Shane Smith, study technician: 612-624-1352 or smit4172@umn.edu

KPT-335 is a new compound showing potent anti-tumor activity in the laboratory. We are looking for dogs with lymphoma, mast cell tumor, osteosarcoma or melanoma which have either failed treatment, have no treatment available or whose owners decline treatment for financial concerns. Dogs will be otherwise healthy in order to enroll.

Enrolled dogs will be given KPT-335 orally on Monday (in the clinic) and Thursday (at home) of each week for four weeks. We will analyze tumor response by direct tumor measurement with a caliper or through the use of X-rays or ultrasound. The study covers costs of screening visit and bloodwork, study drug and visits, and any complications that arise due to the study drug. Dogs that have a favorable response to KPT-335 will have the opportunity to continue treatment for additional cycles, with the drug provided at no charge.

For more information please contact Dr. Borgatti or Shane Smith (above).

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Palladia/Piroxicam/Cyclophosphamide Therapy in Dogs with Osteosarcoma

Current Status: Active and enrolling
Principal Investigator: Antonella Borgatti, DVM, DACVIM, DECVIM-CA
Contact: Dr. Borgatti at 612-626-5786 or the Oncology service at 612-626-8387 (main VMC number)

We are looking for dogs which have been diagnosed with appendicular osteosarcoma (bone cancer in a limb). Owners will be willing to cover costs of surgery and chemotherapy with a drug called carboplatin. There will be four cycles of chemotherapy three weeks apart beginning two weeks after surgery.  Three weeks after the final carboplatin treatment, the dogs will be put into two groups of maintenance therapy: one group will receive the new drug Palladia along with piroxicam and cyclophosphaminde, the other will receive piroxicam and cyclophosphamide. 

Dogs will be otherwise healthy in order to enroll.  Study visits will include the day of group assignment, a recheck at 1, 2, and 4 weeks, then every month thereafter. We will take blood samples and periodic radiographs.

The study will cover the costs of the carboplatin and Palladia, plus a credit at each recheck ($50-$75/visit) for a total of $650 over eight months.

To find out if a dog will qualify, please contact the investigator above, or the Oncology and Radiation Therapy section of the VMC at 612-626-8387.

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OSAL: Safety and Tumor Response of Salmonella-IL2 in Combination with Adriamycin in Dogs with Appendicular Osteosarcoma 

Current Status: Active and enrolling
Principal Investigator: Vicki Wilke, DVM, DACVS
Contacts:
Shane Smith, study technician: 612-624-1352 or smit4172@umn.edu
Oncology service at 612-626-8387 (main VMC number)

Osteosarcoma (OSA) is the most common bone tumor found in the dog. In approximately 90% of dogs with OSA, the cancer has already spread by the time they are diagnosed. With surgery alone, dogs have a median survival of 3-4 months which increases to 9-14 months with chemotherapy. We are studying the use of an attenuated strain of Salmonella typhimurium conjugated to the IL2 gene (Salmonella IL2) in addition to standard of care in treating dogs with osteosarcoma. Salmonella-IL2 has been shown to be safe and to reduce tumor volume (size) in various animal species. There is an on-going early clinical trial in human patients with no toxicities noted thus far.

Patients for this study will be otherwise healthy, with OSA limited to one limb, whose owners are willing pursue the standard treatments of amputation and chemotherapy. We are looking for new cases, those that have not yet had surgery, chemotherapy or radiation treatments. In addition, patients will need to have a negative stool culture for Salmonella and not be on a raw diet.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF STUDY: an initial screening visit for an exam, x-rays, and lab tests. On Day 1, dogs will have a bone biopsy and be given their first dose of Sal-IL2. Patients will return on Day 3 and 7 for dosing and follow up. On Day 10, the amputation surgery will be performed. At three weeks out (Day 21) patients will receive a dose of Sal-IL2 and begin chemotherapy with Adriamycin. Day 28 will be the final study recheck, but dogs will receive Sal-IL2 and Adriamycin every three weeks for a total of five treatments.

PET-CT: Some of the patients enrolled in the study will be asked to let us perform PET-CT imaging. Positron Emission Tomography/ Computed Tomography is a special kind of imaging that allows us to assess metastasis or spread of the cancer. If the owner agrees, we will transport the patient to an imaging center on the Minneapolis campus at the beginning of the study and after 6 months of treatment.

COSTS: The study will cover costs from Day 1 on, including PET-CT, up to $2,000. Owners will be responsible for the prescreening/staging visit and costs beyond this amount.

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For more information on cancer research at the College of Veterinary Medicine, please go to the Animal Cancer Care and Research site.

For information on the Oncology and Radiation Therapy department at the Veterinary Medical Center, go here.

You may also Contact Us at the CIC.