Researchers Successfully Force Cancer Into Remission - In Dogs

Man's best friend may be man's best helper. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and School of Veterinary Medicine have discovered how to force cancer into remission - in dogs.

In a recent press release, they detailed how dogs, with certain types of cancer, have been given both chemotherapy treatment simultaneously with another type of novel treatment. Many of these dogs are being cured of cancer. The treatment causes the dogs' own immune system to respond and fight back against the cancer.

They are also developing a cancer vaccination that sounds promising. This vaccine targets the B cell lymphocytes. These are commonly found in breast cancer.

At the present time, they are testing B-cell therapy in dogs that have cancer (lymphoma) and are family pets. Currently they have tested nine dogs. Of these, four of them had their cancer go into remission and remained cancer free for a period of at least 12 months.

All current reports show that this process is safe, as there have not been any reports of serious side effects in the dogs. If the dogs are not given the cancer treatment, their families can typically expect dogs suffering with lymphoma to die within a few months.

Using this vaccine is a three-stage process. First of all, immune cells are removed from a patient's blood. Secondly, these cells are activated in a laboratory setting, and finally, they are placed back into the patient's body.

All of the three steps are important, but the biggest changes occur after the final step. When the cells are placed back into the body, it triggers an anti-tumor response in the cancer patient.

The numbers from this research project are small, but the results are positive so the researchers will be moving forward to expand this study. Researchers have not yet reached the point where they could conduct clinical trials involving human patients, but they have tested this process on human cancer cells from children and found success.

While many people may scoff at the concept of using dogs for cancer research, they can help researchers determine potential side effects, help researchers as they work to determine the proper dosage of medicines, and most importantly, will give the researchers feedback regarding whether or not the drug that is being tested is showing success, or if it is not worth further research.

The Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy is providing funding for this study.

Sources:
http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/magazine/20071112_Researchs_best_friend.html