Determining the Correct Dosing for a Novel Drug to Treat Canine Lymphoma

This study will determine the best dose for dogs with lymphoma, and researchers will study how well AD 198 affects cancer cells.

Results

Lymphoma, a type of white blood cell cancer that occurs commonly in dogs, is rarely cured because the cancer becomes resistant to chemotherapy. Doxorubicin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug, is very effective, but it can damage the heart, thus limiting the total amount that can be given safely. In recent studies, AD198, a new anthracycline drug that is similar to doxorubicin, showed promise in treating mice with lymphomas that were resistant to doxorubicin without damaging the heart.

Researchers tested the safety and effective-ness of AD198 in tissue cultures. In these laboratory tests, the lymphoma cells that were resistant to doxorubicin were also resistant to AD198. This finding is contrary to similar studies done in mice with doxorubicin-resistant lymphomas.

They also concurrently evaluated the effectiveness of AD198 in dogs with resistant lymphoma. Along with other drugs commonly used to treat lymphoma, increasing doses of AD198 were given to dogs with doxorubicin-resistant lymphoma. Similar to the results of the laboratory tissue-culture experiments, canine lymphomas that were resistant to doxorubicin chemotherapy were also resistant to AD198. Given these finding, the researchers do not recommend AD198 as an alternative treatment option for dogs with drug-resistant lymphomas and the study was terminated.

Co-sponsored with the Morris Animal Foundation, Grant Number: D10CA-002

RESEARCHERS

Dr. Laura D. Garrett,
DVM, Dipl. ACVIM (Oncology)
University of Illinois