Enrichment for Canine Cancer Stem Cells by In Vitro Manipulation and Chemotherapy

This study will look at cancer stem cells to develop therapeutic strategies that target these cells and generate new, more effective treatment approaches with fewer side effects for dogs with cancer.

Cancer therapy for dogs has become more common, but treatment doesn’t always lead to long-term remission, and some therapies have debilitating side effects. A major reason for failure of conventional treatments may be their inability to eradicate cancer stem cells. These cells are self-renewing, can spread to new areas of the body and can give rise to daughter cells, which can rapidly divide. This means that even one cancer stem cell left behind after treatment can cause the cancer to return. Cancer stem cells appear to be less susceptible to traditional cancer therapies, such as chemotherapy.

Researchers will study cancer stem cells to help them develop therapeutic strategies that target these cells and generate new, more effective treatment approaches with fewer side effects for dogs with cancer. Aric M. Frantz works jointly with Dr. Modiano

Co-sponsored with the Morris Animal Foundation, Grant Number: D09CA-405

RESEARCHERS

Aric M. Frantz, CVM, ACCR
University of Minnesota