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Aug 5, 2009 6:22 pm US/Central
Free Tumor Removal For Dogs Speeds Human Research
(WCCO)
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After Dr. Pluhar surgically removed as much of Batman's brain tumor as possible, the tumor cells were irradiated in a laboratory to kill them.
CBS
One year after curing a dog's potentially deadly brain cancer, the treatment is being made available to more pet owners at the University of Minnesota, free. The treatments are part of a clinical trial being conducted by the College of Veterinary Medicine, The School of Medicine and the Masonic Cancer Center.
A mixed-breed Shepherd named Batman was the first dog treated this way and his success was so dramatic, the National Cancer Institute is funding further research for up to 100 dogs.
Batman had a common tumor called a glioma, meaning it had scattered invasive cancer cells. Veterinary Surgeon Liz Pluhar said most dogs die within 30 days of diagnosis.
"And here we are a year later and with no evidence of disease," said Dr. Pluhar as she walked Batman outside the university's veterinary hospital.
After Dr. Pluhar surgically removed as much of Batman's brain tumor as possible, the tumor cells were irradiated in a laboratory to kill them. Then the cells were treated to make a custom vaccine, specifically engineered to trigger an intense immune response in the dog.
"And [Batman's] the immune system creates antibodies against those specific antigens or pieces of cell," explained Pluhar. "hopefully [the cells] go to the brain where they take out residual tumor."
Under a research grant, eight other dogs had the same procedure at a cost of about $12,500 each. All of the dogs had their brain cancers shrink or disappear. While some critics may question spending so much money and using such high technology to save the life of a pet, they may soften a bit when they understand that what's being learned by treating the dogs could save human lives.
"Absolutely, that is the whole point of doing this originally," said Pluhar.
University of Minnesota brain tumor researcher Dr. John Ohlfest said his team is very excited about the results. Dr. Ohlfest said one unique element of the vaccine's creation is to develop it in an oxygen-starved environment, which seems to make it much more efficient in finding cancer cells that had survived surgery.
Ohlfest said most cancer research on animals involves rodents and such procedures often do not work when tried in people. However, he believes, working with dogs has greatly accelerated life-saving advances for both man and dog.
"What we learn in the people we may decide to redesigned several aspects of vaccine that was tested in dogs first," said Ohlfest. "That way we can do it much faster than if we were just doing people and working in the laboratory."
After more success treating dogs with brain cancer, Ohlfest said they hope to test the treatment in people within two to three years. Anyone with a dog recently diagnosed with a brain tumor is encouraged to contact the University to see if it might qualify for free treatments through the clinical trial.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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