- Fully funded clincial trial for Dogs with Solid
Tumors: Veterinary Cancer Group (Culver City location) in
cooperation with Animal Clinical Investigations is currently
enrolling dogs for a nationwide clinical trial to evaluate a novel
cancer treatment for measurable melanoma, osteosarcoma, soft tissue
sarcoma, or squamous cell carcinoma. The goal of this therapy is to
specifically target the tumor and induce an inflammatory response.
The proposed benefit of such a response is to shrink existing
tumors and reduce or eliminate microscopic cancer cells that may
not be visible by standard (or any) means. The purpose of this
study is to assess the safety and potential effectiveness of this
therapeutic agent in dogs. Please call Veterinary Cancer Group of
Los Angeles or click
here for more information.
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- B cell lymphoma: Trial utilizing a novel,
non-chemotherapeutic agent designed specifically for canine B cell
lymphoma. Agents of this nature have been used with success
in people with lymphoma adjacent to chemotherapy and as a
maintenance treatment. Aside from the initial consultation to
determine eligibility, this trial is fully funded for naïve
untreated lymphoma cases. Click here for more
information.
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- Osteosarcoma:
Veterinary Cancer Group is actively enrolling dogs with OSA into a
partially funded multi-institutional clinical trial. Eligible
patients will have undergone a limb amputation with histopathologic
confirmation of osteosarcoma. Carboplatin will be initiated
within 14 days of surgery every 3 weeks for 4 treatments followed
by randomization to either Palladia/Piroxicam/Cytoxan or
Piroxicam/Cytoxan.
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- Transitional Cell
Carcinoma: This partially funded study aims
to determine whether different non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
agents have the same efficacy against transitional cell
carcinoma. Traditionally, piroxicam has been used; however,
recent trials have shown other NSAIDs are also effective. The
goals of this trial are to determine if piroxicam, a non-selective
NSAID, and firocoxib, a highly selective NSAID, have equal efficacy
in a controlled setting, and also to help establish the mechanisms
through which NSAIDs work in cancer therapy. Both offices are
recruiting dogs with bladder masses for this study. Dogs will
receive piroxicam or firocoxib in combination with mitoxantrone
chemotherapy, consistent with current standards of care.
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- Obstructive
Transitional Cell Carcinoma: This study is designed
to alleviate urinary obstruction by utilizing palliative radiation
therapy (five consecutive daily doses of radiation Monday through
Friday), a urinary catheter, chemotherapy and piroxicam.
Initial results have showed a 100 percent success rate at
unblocking urinary obstruction in dogs with urinary transitional
cell carcinoma.
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- OSA in
Greyhounds: The Veterinary Cancer Group is working
together with the Greyhound Health and Wellness Program at The Ohio
State University in order to determine if there is a genetic
correlation among retired racing greyhounds that develop OSA.
Five doses of chemotherapy agent will be provided free of charge to
qualified greyhounds in exchange for a small blood sample.
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- Brain
Tumors: This study is designed to deliver two
treatments of hypo-fractionated radiation therapy to dogs and cats
with brain tumors in a modified radiosurgical Linear Accelerator
based approach. Animals will be set up in a Z-plate positioning
device during initial planning CT scan and a three dimensional
computerized radiation arc beam therapy treatment plan will be
generated. Animals then receive two fractions of radiation given
two days apart. Goal of the study is to evaluate the effects of a
modified radiosurgical and potentially palliative approach for
brain tumor patients who are not candidates for standard definitive
radiation therapy.
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- Canine Nasal
Carcinoma: Partially funded, multi-institutional
clinical study offered via affiliation with the Veterinary
Radiation Therapy Oncology Group. Objective is to identify the
activity of Toceranib (Palladia), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, used
alone or as a radiation sensitizing agent in treatment of canine
nasal carcinomas. Recently, the presence of target receptors for
toceranib have been identified in canine nasal carcinomas and this
non-randomized clinical study will examine the drug's efficacy
either alone or in combination with radiotherapy using a 4.2
Gy x 10 daily fractionation schedule.
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| Non-Cancer Related
Radiation Therapy Study: |
- Osteoarthritis: This
Veterinary Cancer Group and Advanced Critical Care of Los Angeles
partially funded prospective study is designed to investigate the
palliative effects of external beam low dose radiation therapy for
dogs with refractory osteoarthritis. Human trials have demonstrated
long term pain relief and functional gain in 50-75% of patients
treated; animal models have shown significant reduction of
inflammation and joint effusion in affected radiated joints. Dogs
enrolled will receive three doses of radiation, lower than would be
of concern for any side effects, on three consecutive days and be
followed for 1 year after completion of radiation. Initial and
follow up orthopedic exams performed by a board certified surgeon.
Eligible candidates must have orthogonal radiographic views of the
joint, CBC and chemistry profile, and Urine test at their family
veterinarian. Concurrent NSAIDs or steroid usage do not disqualify
enrollment. Click here for a Fact Sheet for
the Osteoarthritis Study. (Update July 2011: To date, we
have currently enrolled two refractory arthritis patients and
results appear promising... Both patients have had a
significant improvement in both their functionality and pain level
and continue to maintain their response. Side effects have
not been observed from the radiation given the small doses used for
the study. Room for 18 more patients to be enrolled in this
partially funded prospective study.)
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