http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/29/104471.aspx
Read this blog story and click on the link to Today Show segment, "Jill's Best Friend," that is drawing the interest of pet lovers everywhere. The segment covers her journey with her dog Jack, and his survival from a diagnosis of bone cancer. Animal Cancer Foundation founder, Gerry Post, DVM, is the veterinary oncologist who saved Jack. Dr. Post tells viewers -- "Cancer is no longer a death sentence." What a great story.
Friday, March 30, 2007
New Vaccine for Canine Skin Cancer Is Good Tidings
This recent item is excellent news for canine cancer and the field of comparative oncology. Melanoma, according to one expert, is 35 times more common in dogs than in people. And it is frequently fatal. But the new idea of using a therapeutic vaccine to activate the immune system to fight the cancer has important implications for this cancer type, and other cancers that affect people and pets. A short version of the press release and a link to the whole story follows:
USDA Grants Conditional Approval for First Therapeutic Vaccine to Treat Cancer
DULUTH, Ga., March 26 -- Merial gained conditional approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a breakthrough vaccine to treat canine melanoma, a common yet deadly form of cancer in dogs. This is the first time that the U.S. government has approved a therapeutic vaccine for the treatment of cancer -- in either animals or humans.
The vaccine will initially be available for use by specialists practicing veterinary oncology, so pet owners will want to ask their veterinarians about how to access this treatment option.
The vaccine was developed through a partnership between Merial, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and The Animal Medical Center (AMC) of New York. Drs. Alan Houghton and Jedd Wolchok of MSKCC were doing laboratory testing of a melanoma vaccine they developed. An inquiry by Dr. Philip Bergman of The AMC, seeking novel treatments for canine melanoma, resulted in the clinical trial of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering melanoma vaccine at The Animal Medical Center. Subsequent parallel trials at AMC and MSKCC refined the dosage and protocol to the current therapeutic regimen for dogs.
"Both humans and dogs develop this cancer in exactly the same way. The disease occurs spontaneously through an interaction of genes with the environment," explained Jedd D. Wolchok, MD, PhD, an oncologist on the Clinical Immunology Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering. "By conducting trials in humans and in animals that live in the same surroundings as
humans, there can be a synergy that we hope will result in improved cancer treatment for all."
Canine melanoma is an aggressive form of cancer that typically appears in a dog's mouth, but also may appear in the nail bed, foot pad or other areas. Dogs with melanomas that have gone beyond initial stages typically have a lifespan of one to five months with conventional therapies. To date, the most common treatments for this form of cancer have been radiation and surgery. "Melanoma spreads readily, and, unfortunately, is often resistant to chemotherapy," said Bob Menardi, DVM, a veterinarian and spokesperson for Merial.
Clinical studies demonstrated significantly longer life spans even in dogs with advanced stages of melanoma. In fact, many dogs have survived beyond the 389-day median survival of the initial study.
"Historically speaking, treatment of oral melanoma with surgery, radiation or chemotherapy has not been very effective," said Dr. Bergman. "This therapeutic vaccine is an adjunct therapy for dogs that have been diagnosed with this often fatal disease."
"We're all very proud of what we've accomplished here," said Tim Leard, DVM, PhD, Director of Biologics Research and Development at Merial. "We've brought together a number of partners, all committed to innovation and discovery. This product will improve the health and well-being of dogs, and we're very excited about continuing this work, leveraging technology, and developing more treatments."
The USDA has issued a conditional U.S. Veterinary Biological Product License for this therapeutic vaccine. This conditional license is a response to an application and assurance of safety and purity, and a reasonable expectation of efficacy based on initial trials.
During the period of conditional licensure, Merial will conduct additional research to further support the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.
Full story:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news/index_mail.shtml?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-26-2007/0004553373&EDATE=
USDA Grants Conditional Approval for First Therapeutic Vaccine to Treat Cancer
DULUTH, Ga., March 26 -- Merial gained conditional approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a breakthrough vaccine to treat canine melanoma, a common yet deadly form of cancer in dogs. This is the first time that the U.S. government has approved a therapeutic vaccine for the treatment of cancer -- in either animals or humans.
The vaccine will initially be available for use by specialists practicing veterinary oncology, so pet owners will want to ask their veterinarians about how to access this treatment option.
The vaccine was developed through a partnership between Merial, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and The Animal Medical Center (AMC) of New York. Drs. Alan Houghton and Jedd Wolchok of MSKCC were doing laboratory testing of a melanoma vaccine they developed. An inquiry by Dr. Philip Bergman of The AMC, seeking novel treatments for canine melanoma, resulted in the clinical trial of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering melanoma vaccine at The Animal Medical Center. Subsequent parallel trials at AMC and MSKCC refined the dosage and protocol to the current therapeutic regimen for dogs.
"Both humans and dogs develop this cancer in exactly the same way. The disease occurs spontaneously through an interaction of genes with the environment," explained Jedd D. Wolchok, MD, PhD, an oncologist on the Clinical Immunology Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering. "By conducting trials in humans and in animals that live in the same surroundings as
humans, there can be a synergy that we hope will result in improved cancer treatment for all."
Canine melanoma is an aggressive form of cancer that typically appears in a dog's mouth, but also may appear in the nail bed, foot pad or other areas. Dogs with melanomas that have gone beyond initial stages typically have a lifespan of one to five months with conventional therapies. To date, the most common treatments for this form of cancer have been radiation and surgery. "Melanoma spreads readily, and, unfortunately, is often resistant to chemotherapy," said Bob Menardi, DVM, a veterinarian and spokesperson for Merial.
Clinical studies demonstrated significantly longer life spans even in dogs with advanced stages of melanoma. In fact, many dogs have survived beyond the 389-day median survival of the initial study.
"Historically speaking, treatment of oral melanoma with surgery, radiation or chemotherapy has not been very effective," said Dr. Bergman. "This therapeutic vaccine is an adjunct therapy for dogs that have been diagnosed with this often fatal disease."
"We're all very proud of what we've accomplished here," said Tim Leard, DVM, PhD, Director of Biologics Research and Development at Merial. "We've brought together a number of partners, all committed to innovation and discovery. This product will improve the health and well-being of dogs, and we're very excited about continuing this work, leveraging technology, and developing more treatments."
The USDA has issued a conditional U.S. Veterinary Biological Product License for this therapeutic vaccine. This conditional license is a response to an application and assurance of safety and purity, and a reasonable expectation of efficacy based on initial trials.
During the period of conditional licensure, Merial will conduct additional research to further support the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.
Full story:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news/index_mail.shtml?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-26-2007/0004553373&EDATE=
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Saving Percy the Cat -- cancer radiation treatment not just for people
March 15, 2007
Contact: Christian Basi, Associate Director, BasiC@missouri.edu
By Kelsey Jackson
COLUMBIA, Mo. – With blue-gray fur and a habit of purring, Percy isn’t your typical cancer patient, but at the University of Missouri-Columbia’s Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, even Russian Blue cats can undergo radiation treatment.
Each year, more than 1,200 appointments are scheduled through the innovative veterinary oncology program at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine for animals suffering from cancer. The animals are seen by veterinarians with specialty training in oncology. The program works in a cooperative effort with human medicine oncologists to find effective treatments for both people and animals. Veterinarians at MU use similar techniques of human medicine, including the newest advances in chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. MU has four board-certified veterinary oncologists on staff, as well as a board-certified radiation therapist, three medical oncology and one radiation oncology resident, and one oncology intern.
“The University of Missouri-Columbia is unique in that it is home to a veterinary teaching hospital, a medical school and cancer center, a research reactor and a life sciences research center, all located on the same physical campus,” said Carolyn Henry, associate professor and director of the Scott Endowed Program in Veterinary Oncology. “This gives us an unparalleled opportunity to create a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and researchers devoted to discovering improved diagnostic and therapeutic options for all cancer patients.”
Cats can develop several cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma, lymphoma, breast and lung cancer. The demand for veterinary oncologists has increased as more and more people consider pets as members of their families. In addition, the MU group has developed an oncology clinical trials service for enrollment of animal cancer patients in trials evaluating new cutting-edge therapies. As evidence of their success in this area, the MU oncology program was chosen as one of only 13 sites comprising the National Cancer Institute’s Comparative Oncology Trials Consortium. The first trial studying a novel cancer treatment in dogs is underway, with MU serving as one of only four trial sites in the nation.
Percy, perhaps the most famous pet-patient at the hospital, won the heart of Brad Belk, the director at the Joplin Museum Complex in Joplin, Mo., who found the cat abandoned in 2000. Belk decided to keep the cat as an official museum greeter. In the last seven years, Percy has greeted more than 100,000 museum visitors, received fan letters from people all over the world and survived a well-publicized kidnapping. Some of his famous fans include the governor of Missouri; Brad Pitt’s mother, who wanted one of his offspring to give to Jennifer Aniston; and artist Harriet Cremeen, who completed an oil painting of the cat three years ago.
MU veterinary oncologists were determined not to let cancerous lesions from Percy’s abdomen and left hind leg end his star status. Percy was brought to the veterinary teaching hospital after three previous surgeries did not completely remove his tumors. To combat his aggressive form of fibrosarcoma, the cat had four weeks of radiation therapy by one of the few linear accelerators dedicated to veterinary use. During his stay at the hospital, Percy received 20 doses of radiation to his tumor site.
Unlike some of the human patients, Percy shows no signs of side effects from his treatment. Percy was released from the hospital and is doing well, Henry said.
Contact: Christian Basi, Associate Director, BasiC@missouri.edu
By Kelsey Jackson
COLUMBIA, Mo. – With blue-gray fur and a habit of purring, Percy isn’t your typical cancer patient, but at the University of Missouri-Columbia’s Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, even Russian Blue cats can undergo radiation treatment.
Each year, more than 1,200 appointments are scheduled through the innovative veterinary oncology program at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine for animals suffering from cancer. The animals are seen by veterinarians with specialty training in oncology. The program works in a cooperative effort with human medicine oncologists to find effective treatments for both people and animals. Veterinarians at MU use similar techniques of human medicine, including the newest advances in chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. MU has four board-certified veterinary oncologists on staff, as well as a board-certified radiation therapist, three medical oncology and one radiation oncology resident, and one oncology intern.
“The University of Missouri-Columbia is unique in that it is home to a veterinary teaching hospital, a medical school and cancer center, a research reactor and a life sciences research center, all located on the same physical campus,” said Carolyn Henry, associate professor and director of the Scott Endowed Program in Veterinary Oncology. “This gives us an unparalleled opportunity to create a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and researchers devoted to discovering improved diagnostic and therapeutic options for all cancer patients.”
Cats can develop several cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma, lymphoma, breast and lung cancer. The demand for veterinary oncologists has increased as more and more people consider pets as members of their families. In addition, the MU group has developed an oncology clinical trials service for enrollment of animal cancer patients in trials evaluating new cutting-edge therapies. As evidence of their success in this area, the MU oncology program was chosen as one of only 13 sites comprising the National Cancer Institute’s Comparative Oncology Trials Consortium. The first trial studying a novel cancer treatment in dogs is underway, with MU serving as one of only four trial sites in the nation.
Percy, perhaps the most famous pet-patient at the hospital, won the heart of Brad Belk, the director at the Joplin Museum Complex in Joplin, Mo., who found the cat abandoned in 2000. Belk decided to keep the cat as an official museum greeter. In the last seven years, Percy has greeted more than 100,000 museum visitors, received fan letters from people all over the world and survived a well-publicized kidnapping. Some of his famous fans include the governor of Missouri; Brad Pitt’s mother, who wanted one of his offspring to give to Jennifer Aniston; and artist Harriet Cremeen, who completed an oil painting of the cat three years ago.
MU veterinary oncologists were determined not to let cancerous lesions from Percy’s abdomen and left hind leg end his star status. Percy was brought to the veterinary teaching hospital after three previous surgeries did not completely remove his tumors. To combat his aggressive form of fibrosarcoma, the cat had four weeks of radiation therapy by one of the few linear accelerators dedicated to veterinary use. During his stay at the hospital, Percy received 20 doses of radiation to his tumor site.
Unlike some of the human patients, Percy shows no signs of side effects from his treatment. Percy was released from the hospital and is doing well, Henry said.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Racing to Cure Cancer
Iditarod Racing Team Sponsors Charity Collars For Cancer
Karen Ramstead, a six-time competitor in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska, is joining in the fight to help find cures for pet cancer.
“All the dogs on my Iditarod team this year will be sporting bright orange Pet4Pets™ charity collars,” said Ramstead, an Alberta dog musher and Siberian Husky breeder.
Karen Ramstead, a six-time competitor in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska, is joining in the fight to help find cures for pet cancer.
“All the dogs on my Iditarod team this year will be sporting bright orange Pet4Pets™ charity collars,” said Ramstead, an Alberta dog musher and Siberian Husky breeder.
The collars are sold in pet supply stores, vet clinics and at www.pet4pets.com to support pet cancer research. Each collar sold raises $2 for the Animal Cancer Foundation.
The legendary Iditarod follows a 1,151-mile trail through deep snow, two mountain ranges, along the lonely Yukon River, and finally up the coast of the Bering Sea. The race celebrates the dramatic 1925 delivery by dog sled of lifesaving medicine for a diphtheria outbreak in Nome, Alaska. When Ramstead’s team sets off from Anchorage this March, they will be joining the race to cure cancer in pets and people.
“Like many dog owners, we have lost a number of dogs to cancer. Chester, one of my 10-year-old retired leaders, has lived out his last days with this disease. It broke my heart to watch as this once amazing athlete be beaten by cancer,” she said.
Ramstead spotted the charity collars at the vet clinic. In agony at Chester’s diagnosis, she felt that sponsoring the collars was a way to honor her canine companion of thousands of miles of aching cold and exhausted jubilation.
Chester arrived in her life at a grim time in the winter of 1996/97. She had lost her father to cancer. Her husband, Mark, was out of work. The last thing they needed was another dog. But Chester stayed, and it was a turning point in their lives.
Soon Mark got a new job. They moved from Calgary to Perryvale, near Athabasca in Northern Alberta. And Karen, a Toronto transplant, got serious about the Iditarod, called The Last Great Race on Earth. Just to finish is a triumph of will.
She and Chester first tried it in 2000 but did not finish. The next year, they did. She was the first Canadian woman to complete the race. And Chester was a leader in the first team of registered Canadian Kennel Club Huskies to cross the finish line, she said.
In 2004, her team, led by Chester and her superstar leader, Grover, set the third-fastest time for a purebred team. As celebrities, she and Chester toured schools to teach youngsters about mushing. Chester loved kids, and they loved him right back.
“With his non-stop wagging tail and friendly Siberian grin, he made friends wherever we went,” she recalled. A handsome dog, Chester also won a Canadian Championship and is one of only seven Champion Siberian Huskies that have finished the Iditarod.
In January 2005, Chester retired from racing after a shoulder injury. He spent some time in New Hampshire and came home to retire. Then, he had trouble swallowing food. A lump appeared on his head. An X-ray, barium swallow and biopsy confirmed that Chester had advanced cancer and less than a month to live.
“Our once proud, strong sled dog moved into the house so that we could enjoy every moment with him,” she said.
“Chester and I traveled 20,000 miles together in harness over the years. We have conquered the Alaska Mountain Range, brutal storms, ice, overflow and more – but this was something that he and I couldn’t beat.”
So in March 2007 her team sprinted across the frigid wilderness to honor the brave dog teams of 1925. And they wore symbols of a great challenge for the 21st Century – to fight cancer, a disease that afflicts millions of pets and people.
As winter set icy roots in the forests of Alberta, amidst the holiday season, Chester grew weaker and stopped eating. So the two companions of thousands of miles had one last journey to make together. But his name will live on.
“If telling Chester's story can help make it so someday another dog owner doesn't have to watch their dog go through this, I'm all for it,” she said.
Ramstead’s sponsorship of charity collars for the Animal Cancer foundation helps raise awareness that scientists studying pet cancer can also shed light on human disease and that many pets with cancer may benefit from new human cancer therapies. For more information, visit www.pet4pets.com.
Pet4Pets™is a trademark of Genia LLC
“Like many dog owners, we have lost a number of dogs to cancer. Chester, one of my 10-year-old retired leaders, has lived out his last days with this disease. It broke my heart to watch as this once amazing athlete be beaten by cancer,” she said.
Ramstead spotted the charity collars at the vet clinic. In agony at Chester’s diagnosis, she felt that sponsoring the collars was a way to honor her canine companion of thousands of miles of aching cold and exhausted jubilation.
Chester arrived in her life at a grim time in the winter of 1996/97. She had lost her father to cancer. Her husband, Mark, was out of work. The last thing they needed was another dog. But Chester stayed, and it was a turning point in their lives.
Soon Mark got a new job. They moved from Calgary to Perryvale, near Athabasca in Northern Alberta. And Karen, a Toronto transplant, got serious about the Iditarod, called The Last Great Race on Earth. Just to finish is a triumph of will.
She and Chester first tried it in 2000 but did not finish. The next year, they did. She was the first Canadian woman to complete the race. And Chester was a leader in the first team of registered Canadian Kennel Club Huskies to cross the finish line, she said.
In 2004, her team, led by Chester and her superstar leader, Grover, set the third-fastest time for a purebred team. As celebrities, she and Chester toured schools to teach youngsters about mushing. Chester loved kids, and they loved him right back.
“With his non-stop wagging tail and friendly Siberian grin, he made friends wherever we went,” she recalled. A handsome dog, Chester also won a Canadian Championship and is one of only seven Champion Siberian Huskies that have finished the Iditarod.
In January 2005, Chester retired from racing after a shoulder injury. He spent some time in New Hampshire and came home to retire. Then, he had trouble swallowing food. A lump appeared on his head. An X-ray, barium swallow and biopsy confirmed that Chester had advanced cancer and less than a month to live.
“Our once proud, strong sled dog moved into the house so that we could enjoy every moment with him,” she said.
“Chester and I traveled 20,000 miles together in harness over the years. We have conquered the Alaska Mountain Range, brutal storms, ice, overflow and more – but this was something that he and I couldn’t beat.”
So in March 2007 her team sprinted across the frigid wilderness to honor the brave dog teams of 1925. And they wore symbols of a great challenge for the 21st Century – to fight cancer, a disease that afflicts millions of pets and people.
As winter set icy roots in the forests of Alberta, amidst the holiday season, Chester grew weaker and stopped eating. So the two companions of thousands of miles had one last journey to make together. But his name will live on.
“If telling Chester's story can help make it so someday another dog owner doesn't have to watch their dog go through this, I'm all for it,” she said.
Ramstead’s sponsorship of charity collars for the Animal Cancer foundation helps raise awareness that scientists studying pet cancer can also shed light on human disease and that many pets with cancer may benefit from new human cancer therapies. For more information, visit www.pet4pets.com.
Pet4Pets™is a trademark of Genia LLC
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