06/27/2023
Dogs and their owners are said to look alike, but that resemblance is more than skin deep.
They also have genetic similarities that extend to cancerous tumors, which make dogs prime models for clinical trials that are pushing forward the development of cancer drugs for both canines and humans.
Last year, Colorado State University animal health researchers Steven Dow and Dan Regan led a successful clinical trial in dogs with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer that’s rare in humans but most likely to afflict children and young adults.
Treatments for such cancers are difficult to find — a lack of funding and a small number of patients can make conducting human clinical trials tough.
But dogs develop osteosarcoma about 10 times more often than people, so clinical trials in dogs could help researchers home in on the treatment most likely to succeed in humans while at the same time finding a cure for our beloved companions.
Maisy, a goldendoodle, was enrolled in one of the trials after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma. Maisy had the tumor removed and was treated with an experimental drug regimen. Over a year later, she remains cancer free.
“I’m grateful that we have this time with Maisy,” said her owner, Trish Rockett. “And just knowing that this research being done with dogs is actually helping kids, too — it’s just amazing.”
Based on the findings from Dow and Regan, similar cancer treatments have entered phase 1 clinical trials in human patients with osteosarcoma.
Learn more: https://col.st/sSsbd
CSU College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Translational Medicine Institute CSU Animal Cancer Center National Cancer Institute National Institutes of Health (NIH)