Studies GREYlong Supports
GREYlong provided support to three studies for 2012. They are noted with three asterisks below. GREYlong has donated over $51,000 to fund studies that track why cancer occurs and research drugs that mitigate the effects of cancer.
Bone Cancer
Bone cancer affects many of the large breeds including the Doberman Pinscher, Golden Retriever, Great Dane, Greyhound, Labrador, and Rottweiler. In humans advanced stage breast cancer and prostate cancer metastasize to bone cancer. Finding a cure is a win-win for both humans and our canine companions.
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Immunotherapy for Osteosarcoma (OSAL) *** (Dr. Vicki Wilke and Emily Lipsitz, University of Minnesota) will evaluate the safety and efficacy of non-pathogenic Salmonella organisms carrying an immune cytokine (IL-2) to mount specific anti-tumor responses in dogs with spontaneous osteosarcoma. This trial has current support from the Children's Cancer Research Fund and the Animal Cancer Care and Research Program of the University of Minnesota.
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Osteosarcoma (OSA) Genetic Study *** (Dr. Guillermo Couto, Ohio State University) OSA is the most common cause of death in retired racing Greyhounds, yet it is very uncommon in AKC Greyhounds. This provides a unique opportunity to evaluate genes involved in the development and progression of OSA in the breed. In collaboration with Dr. Alvarez's lab in Nationwide Children's Hospital we are currently evaluating samples from retired racers and AKC dogs with and without OSA, in order to identify genes involved in the development of this deadly disease. In addition, because racing Greyhounds are tattooed and their pedigrees easily obtained on line, we are evaluating pedigrees in dogs with and without OSA for statistical comparison. In addition, in collaboration with Dr. Breen's (NCSU) and Lindbladh-Toh's (The Broad Institute) labs we are evaluating OSA genes in Greyhounds and other breeds, and evaluating their role in response to treatment and prognosis. Finally, we are evaluating novel treatment protocols for both Greyhounds and dogs of other breeds with OSA.
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Evaluation of Cyclopamine as a Therapy for Bone Cancer *** (Dr. Heather Wilson, Texas A&M) Cancer arises from a single mutated cell possessing the power to replicate and form a tumor. There are many theories as to the cause and progression of this process. One theory states that a cell with stem cell capabilities divides to produce new tumor-initiating cells and daughter cells. Identifying pathways that can increase sensitivity to therapeutic intervention is paramount to finding a cure for bone cancer. Cyclopamine, a chemical found in the corn lily plant, inhibits the pathway responsible for normal embryo development and directing the regeneration of tissues. This study will research Cyclopamine's effectiveness at inhibiting tumor-initiating cells in canine osteosarcoma cell lines. The goal is to provide a new targeted therapy for pets with osteosarcoma.
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Examining Drug Targets for Treating Bone Cancer (Dr. Joseph J. Wakshlag, Cornell University). Preliminary evidence in humans suggests that blocking a traditional pathway of inflammation, know as the lipoxygenase (LOX) pathway, can inhibit the growth of certain cancer cells. This study examines the role the LOX pathway plays in canine osteosarcoma development and whether inhibiting it can kill bone cancer cells. The findings may lead to a new drug therapy for osteosarcoma.
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MicroRNA Expression Profiling of Canine Osteosarcoma (Dr. W.C. Kisseberth, Ohio State University). Using the assumption that cancer is fundamentally a genetic disease, by studying the MicroRNA expressions, investigators hope to identify new molecular targets for therapy, which will lead to better treatment of this disease.
Immunotherapy
- Effect of Tumor Microenvironment on Canine Myeloid Cells ***(Veterinary Student Scholar Jacob Wasserman, Ohio State University. Although chemotherapy has been the primary treatment of choice in human and veterinary oncology, chemotherapy is relatively untargeted and has numerous side effects. Stimulating the immune system to target tumor cells offers a potentially more effective and less toxic alternative to chemotherapy alone, and such cancer immunotherapy is being explored in canine and human cancer patients. In cancer, it is thought that myeloid cells, a type of cell derived from marrow, significantly contribute to the immunosuppression seen in cancer patients. This study was chosen to honor the memory of the Loeser's pet therapy dog, Brooke.
Genetic Studies
- Investigating the Biology of Canine Met Mutations (Dr. Cheryl London, DVM, Ohio State University. Research has shown that mutations in a gene called Met contribute to the development of numerous types of cancer in humans and mice. This study is searching for genetic markers that will help better target cancer treatments and have identified 2 similar mutations in dogs, which have a high chance of developing cancer. The researchers are encouraged by their preliminary results with this inhibitor in several clinical cases of dogs diagnosed with osteosarcoma.
- RNAi Delivery Vectors Target to Canine Tumors (Dr. D. Argyle, University of Edinburgh). This study ended in 2008. It identified a molecular target in cancer that is a near universal marker of malignancy. The study utilized RNA interference technology to develop a therapeutic strategy for cancers. They showed that the direct injection of these molecules may have an effect, albeit, not sustainable, in the cessation of cancer.
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is one of the most common and fatal cancers in dogs. Most dogs treated with chemo go into remission, but the cancer develops drug resistance and recurs.
- Determining the Correct Dosing for Anthracycline drug to Treat Canine Lymphoma *** (Dr. Alfred Legendre, University of Tennessee. AD198 is a new antrhacycline drug used in chemotherapy. This study will determine the best dose for dogs with lymphoma, and researchers will study how well AD 198 affects cancer cells so that an alternative treatment option can be available to owners and veterinarians.
- Potential Drug Therapy for Treatment of Lymphoma Dr. Laura Garrett, University of Illinois) using a novel compound called PAC-1 that has been shown to induce apoptosis (a normal process in which cells undergo programmed death.)
While we would love to share the results of these studies with you, GREYlong has signed confidentiality agreements, that prevent our doing that for two years after the study's final report is released.