Dog With Cancer ‘Almost Back to Normal’ After Pioneering New Treatment

Innovative research for a dog cancer treatment from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine has shown early success during the beginning trials, with one dog “almost back to normal.”

Jeffrey Bryan, a professor and researcher in the College of Veterinary Medicine, works as a clinical trial partner with LEAH Laboratories. The goal of the research is to help develop a therapy treatment for lymphoma in dogs while monitoring with live imaging how it moves through the body.

Lymphoma, a common cancer present in both humans and dogs, affects the lymph nodes and lymphatic system. There are more than 30 known types of lymphoma in dogs, the American Kennel Club says.

This trial, funded by the National Cancer Institute, uses chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells that are injected directly into the dog’s lymph nodes. These engineered cells had a series of genes added, turning them into “professional killers.” The CAR T cells are specifically trained to target cancer cells and attack.

To date, two dogs received the CAR T-cell therapies. Bryan told Newsweek both dogs had “fairly advanced” forms of lymphoma all over their bodies. But the treatment helped the cancer go from being significantly present and measurable to microscopic in about a week and a half.

The other part of the research involves using a positron emission tomography (PET) scanner, a live imaging system to monitor living cell therapies. The dogs received PET scans on days one, three and seven. This allowed the team to track and follow where the CAR T cells traveled throughout the body.

Bryan said the dogs in the trial have gone into complete remission, although months later a recurrence happened for both. Still, Bryan was impressed an early dose of CAR T cells worked quickly in two dogs, back to back, as were the owners.

Sadie, a border collie who received this treatment, had a decrease in lymphatic swelling, according to a University of Missouri press release. Sadie’s owner said that Sadie got better every day and is “almost back to normal.” She is continuing to receive regular cancer treatments.

“Not only did Sadie receive fantastic care at Mizzou, the veterinary staff there were also so attentive—walking us through what to expect and quick to communicate with us when they had updates so we were always in the loop,” the owner said in the release.

Bryan is hopeful a third dog will be tested in February, but the team is still looking to find a canine that fits the research requirements. From there, the goal is to expand research to help humans through a collaboration with the Mayo Clinic.

Everything the trials show from the dogs will hopefully be translated to the human side. Bryan said the research will help in understanding the biology of live cells inside those with lymphoma—where they live, where they expand and so on. Plus, the PET scans allow new monitoring of the therapies.

Bryan is optimistic this current research and treatment will ultimately “benefit both sides of the leash.”