Research Update MAF D24CA-536: Search for Immune Stimulating Mutations in Canine Hemangiosarcoma

Posted on by Janet Boyd in Research Update

SUMMARY: Researchers will look for mutations in hemangiosarcoma cases as a step toward developing new therapies.

THE PROBLEM: Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is a highly malignant disease and is common in breeds including Golden Retrievers, German Shepherd, Boxer, and others. When detected, HSA is often advanced and spreads to other locations. Effective treatment of HSA is currently lacking, and affected dogs have a grave outcome. Thus, research that leads to effective intervention of this terrible disease is urgently needed. Continue reading “Research Update MAF D24CA-536: Search for Immune Stimulating Mutations in Canine Hemangiosarcoma” →

Research Update MAF D22CA-015 FINAL: Blocking Heartworm Transmission

Posted on by Janet Boyd in Research Update

SUMMARY: Morris Animal Foundation-funded researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are investigating how infection by certain bacteria decreases the ability of mosquitoes to transmit infectious larvae of Dirofilaria immitis, the agent of heartworm disease.

THE PROBLEM: Mosquitoes are required for heartworm transmission between dogs. Every year, more than 150,000 cases of canine heartworm disease are reported in the United States alone. Monthly preventive treatments for dogs have been widely available since the mid-1980s. However, drug-resistant strains are on the rise, highlighting the need for novel disease control strategies. The team hopes findings will provide a new approach to block the spread of the heartworm disease by targeting parasites in their mosquito host.

Continue reading “Research Update MAF D22CA-015 FINAL: Blocking Heartworm Transmission” →

Research Update 02946-MY4: Towards Curative Outcomes in Canine Hemangiosarcoma

Posted on by Janet Boyd in Research Update

Original Project Description:

Canine hemangiosarcoma is the most aggressive cancer seen in all dogs, but disproportionately affects older, large breed dogs. Despite aggressive treatment with surgery and chemotherapy, more than 50% of dogs die due to metastatic spread of their cancer within 6 months and no significant advancements in the treatment of hemangiosarcoma have occurred in over 30 years. Several challenges have hindered improvements in outcomes including limitations in the capabilities of current imaging and/or blood-based markers to detect early  relapse/metastasis, gaps in current understanding of the molecular biology of hemangiosarcoma, and a lack of effective therapies that effectively alter the aggressive metastatic behavior of this cancer. Continue reading “Research Update 02946-MY4: Towards Curative Outcomes in Canine Hemangiosarcoma” →

Research Update 03334-MY1: Antiparasitic Treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected Dogs Across Different Stages of Disease for Clinical Cardiac Improvements – the 100-dog Study

Posted on by Janet Boyd in Research Update

Original Project Description:
Chagas disease is a deadly parasitic heart disease of dogs, humans, and other mammals. Chagas disease is a risk where ‘kissing bug’ insect vectors are located, including South America, Central America, Mexico, and the southern United States. The risk of Chagas disease in dogs also extends to regions where dogs from the south may travel or be re-located, so dogs across the US may be at risk. However, tools to prevent and manage canine Chagas cases are lacking as there is no vaccine and no widely-validated antiparasitic treatments. The investigators have spent the past 8 years characterizing how natural infections impact the health of dogs, and how disease progresses in the absence of treatment. Given this baseline information, the team will develop and refine a canine Chagas disease scoring system to categorize the severity of the disease (measured by a panel of sensitive diagnostic tests and clinical assessments). This scoring system is a critical prerequisite for deploying new treatments. Continue reading “Research Update 03334-MY1: Antiparasitic Treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected Dogs Across Different Stages of Disease for Clinical Cardiac Improvements – the 100-dog Study” →

Research Update 03337-MY1: Identification of Bartonella henselae Immunodominant Epitopes for Diagnosis and Prevention of Canine Bartonelloses

Posted on by Janet Boyd in Research Update

Original Project Description:
Bartonella species, a genus of gram-negative bacteria with zoonotic potential, are associated with a wide spectrum of life-threatening diseases in dogs. More than 10 Bartonella species have been implicated in association with serious diseases in dogs, including endocarditis, myocarditis, peliosis hepatis, granulomatous hepatitis, lymphadenitis, hemangiosarcoma, vasculitis, panniculitis, polyarthritis, uveitis, meningitis, and others. Despite recent advances in diagnostic technology for canine bartonelloses, currently available molecular (qPCR, dPCR), culture, and serological based assays lack sensitivity for a diagnosis of Bartonella infection in dogs. Bartonella spp. infections in dogs throughout the United States pose a serious threat to dogs, and public health, because of an increased risk of transmission from dogs to humans via direct contact with infected fluids, via arthropod vectors, and potentially, through bites. There is an increasingly urgent need for the development of a reliable serodiagnostic assay, as well as for effective strategies to prevent canine bartonelloses. Continue reading “Research Update 03337-MY1: Identification of Bartonella henselae Immunodominant Epitopes for Diagnosis and Prevention of Canine Bartonelloses” →

Research Update 03368-MY1: Advancing Canine Health: Liquid Biopsy for Early Relapse Detection and Improved Treatment of Mast Cell Tumors

Posted on by Janet Boyd in Research Update

Mast cell tumor (MCT) is the most common malignant canine skin tumor, which accounts for 16~21% of all skin tumors. Although all breeds have a potential risk for developing MCTs, many pure breeds(e.g., Boxers, Boston Terriers) are predisposed, resulting in a high disease incidence. Despite the efforts, clinical management decisions are difficult because of the challenging biological behavior of some MCTs and the inaccuracy of the predictive and prognostic biomarkers or other molecular descriptors (i.e., c-KIT staining pattern and mutation status, KI-67, AgNOr). While surgery is the mainstay of managing canine MCTs, toceranib phosphate (Palladia) showed clinical benefits to those MCTs that require chemotherapy. However, most will develop acquired resistance within months of starting the treatment.

Currently, there are no means of identification of treatment resistance apart from clinical characteristics, which usually capture the relapse late, when the disease is already disseminated. In addition, most procedures used for monitoring patients with MCT require sedation or general anesthesia. Early disease progression detection by quantifying minimal residual disease is thus an unmet clinical need. The development of such an assay could significantly affect disease management, improve patient outcomes and welfare, and help emerge novel therapeutic targets through better patient stratification. Continue reading “Research Update 03368-MY1: Advancing Canine Health: Liquid Biopsy for Early Relapse Detection and Improved Treatment of Mast Cell Tumors” →

Research Update MAF D24CA-535: Studying Hemangiosarcoma Subtypes and Treatment Response

Posted on by Janet Boyd in Research Update

SUMMARY: Researchers are studying if hemangiosarcoma (HSA) subtypes influence how affected dogs respond to treatment – a step toward precision medicine for these patients.

THE PROBLEM: Hemangiosarcoma is a serious and usually fatal cancer of dogs. Most dogs die of the disease by  within 4-6 months post-diagnosis, even with aggressive treatment. However, some research suggests that hemangiosarcoma is not one disease but comprised of different subtypes, and these subtypes might be related to  longevity and response to therapy.

THE PROJECT: This research team has previously found that dogs with one type of HSA are more likely to live longer than dogs that have a different type of HSA. This may explain why current treatments fail to help most dogs with HSA live longer despite aggressive care. To take a closer look at this finding, researchers will identify the HSA type or signature in tumors from dogs that have lived longer than other dog patients with HSA. The team is using data from a study in progress to inform their evaluation of archived tissues to assess prevalence and survival. Continue reading “Research Update MAF D24CA-535: Studying Hemangiosarcoma Subtypes and Treatment Response” →

Research Update CHF 02806-MOU FINAL: Strategic Prevention of Canine Hemangiosarcoma: Lifetime Follow-Up

Posted on by Janet Boyd in Research Update

The goal for this project is to develop a reliable, accessible, and actionable test to identify dogs at risk for hemangiosarcoma during the earliest stages of disease and to use a strategic, rationally  designed approach to prevent its occurrence in these high-risk dogs before it becomes clinically  detrimental and life-threatening. The study has two objectives. The first is to determine the most  reasonable duration of an SOS test result. In other words, how long can a low-risk SOS test result be trusted and how much time might elapse between a high-risk SOS test result and the development of hemangiosarcoma. The second aim is to continue periodic testing for dogs previously enrolled in the Shine On study whose test result would have placed them in a high-risk category for development of hemangiosarcoma, and to provide eBAT as a strategy for prevention.

To complete the first objective, we conducted surveys to determine the health status of every dog enrolled in Shine On phase-3 (SO3, the early detection phase) at 6-month intervals. Continue reading “Research Update CHF 02806-MOU FINAL: Strategic Prevention of Canine Hemangiosarcoma: Lifetime Follow-Up” →

Research Update CHF 03243-A EY1: Comparison of Clorazepate and Levetiracetam as Pulse Therapy for the In-Home Management of Cluster Seizures in Dogs with Idiopathic Epilepsy: A Pilot Study

Posted on by Janet Boyd in Research Update

Idiopathic epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disorder of dogs. Approximately half of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy have cluster seizures, defined as 2 or more seizures within a 24-hour period, and have an increased risk of epilepsy-related complications or death associated with this seizure pattern. Treatment regimens that include in-home administration of emergency medication for cluster seizures are commonly prescribed, but there is a lack of evidence on which to base treatment recommendations. Continue reading “Research Update CHF 03243-A EY1: Comparison of Clorazepate and Levetiracetam as Pulse Therapy for the In-Home Management of Cluster Seizures in Dogs with Idiopathic Epilepsy: A Pilot Study” →