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Post by DeDe on May 8, 2012 5:55:47 GMT -5
Mason Bone Cancer Study Evaluation of a recombinant bacteria vaccine to treat bone cancer in dogs Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine whether a recombinant L. Dr. Mason bone cancer studymoncytogenes vaccine can elicit anti-tumor immunity and prolong survival in dogs with cancer of their long bones (appendicular osteosarcoma (OSA)). Enrollment criteria and baseline evaluation of patients We are actively recruting patients for a pilot study to determine the safety and efficiacy of a new bacteria based vaccine to stimulate an immune response against osteosarcoma and prolong survival in dogs with bone cancer. Only those dogs with a histological diagnosis of osteosarcoma and who have undergone limb amputation and standard chemotherapy (4 doses of carboplatin) for the treatment of osteosarcoma will be eligible for inclusion in the study. In addition, only those patients whose tumors express the target antigen “Her-2/neu” will be eligible for inclusion in this study. ***Read more here: www.vet.upenn.edu/Research/BasicandClinicalResearch/CanineCancerStudies/BoneCancerStudy/tabid/2392/Default.aspx *** |
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Post by Shadowlands on May 27, 2012 8:49:31 GMT -5
Just a personal note about this study: I understand the good it could do, but I have to say that since your dog must have had an amputation as well as chemotherapy in order to be accepted, I would find it very hard to allow one of my babies to be used as a guinea pig after having gone through all of that. To those that do, my hat is off to you as you are a much bigger person than me.  |
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Post by carlito2002wgn on Jul 23, 2012 8:48:35 GMT -5
Hi, Thank you for posting information about the Mason Bone Cancer Study. My dog is the first dog to receive treatment in this clinical trial. She is a 12 year old American bulldog, and was diagnosed with osteosarcoma on March 6th of this year. We chose to have her leg amputated, as this would provide her with immediate relief from the excruciating pain that the tumor was causing her. Recovery from the amputation was very rough for two days post op, but then Sasha's condition quickly improved. She was able to catch a thrown Frisbee after just three weeks. Not bad for a 12 year old, three legged dog! She received four chemotherapy treatments with carboplatin, and then about a month later, she was in Philly with Dr. Mason getting the Listeria Monocytogenes vaccine. She did very well during her time there, and is scheduled to go back for her second of three treatments on the 30th or 31st of this month. Please wish her well, and check in on her progress at our blog: <a href="http://lilisnotes.com">http://lilisnotes.com</a>. You can also read an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer about the Study and Sasha. Here is the link for that: <a href="http://articles.philly.com/2012-07-15/news/32675523_1_osteosarcoma-bone-cancer-sasha">Philadelphia Inquirer</a> Thanks again for posting this very important information in this forum. Let's hope that the study results in help for many dogs, cats, humans and  in the future! |
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Post by carlito2002wgn on Jul 23, 2012 9:11:56 GMT -5
Just a personal note about this study: I understand the good it could do, but I have to say that since your dog must have had an amputation as well as chemotherapy in order to be accepted, I would find it very hard to allow one of my babies to be used as a guinea pig after having gone through all of that. To those that do, my hat is off to you as you are a much bigger person than me. Hi Sandy, potential good that this trial could bring is huge. Immeasurable really. BUT, let me be honest, the real reasons that my wife and I initially enrolled Sasha into the Mason Bone Cancer Study were purely selfish ones. We love our dogs more than is probably normal, but I have a feeling that I am in similar company here. When Sasha was first diagnosed, our veterinarian explained to us that the pain that Sasha was already experiencing would only get worse with time. Her bone would become to compromised that it could fracture under her own weight. He said that we had three options of how to proceed: We could do nothing, and Sasha would be in horrible and ever increasing pain. She would have a life expectancy of about two months. Our second option was to put her to sleep. This was a much more human approach than the first option, but Sasha was strong and otherwise healthy, and we were not ready to say good bye to her. Dr Neuenschwander agreed that Sasha, although 12 years old, was very strong and healthy, and that is why we chose option three - to amputate her arm. I did a lot of research after speaking with my veterinarian, including reading various medical journals and the experiences of other people who had pets with osteosarcoma. Everything I read was in-line with what Dr. N explained to us. With amputation, Sasha could be expected to be around for another 6 months. This was good, but we also opted for chemotherapy treatments for our girl. Again, after much research, my wife and I were comfortable with allowing our dog to go through these treatments. Dogs do not suffer nearly as much as people do with chemo. One reason is that much lower dosages are given to dogs. Another is probably just that they are so much tougher than we are. Anyway, now that Sasha is done with her chemo treatments, I can honestly say that chemo was no big deal for Sasha. She didn't mind going to the specialty hospital, even though she knew what she was there for. She was always a little lethargic the night of her treatment, but then was back to normal the very next day. Trust me, chemo was no big deal. Oh, and dogs don't go bald I'm running short on time now, but I just want to let you know that the vaccine that Sasha receives at UPenn contains a modified version of Listeria bacterium. It has been modified to make it much less aggressive in reproducing itself, and also less potent, for lack of better word. This vaccine had already been given to mice, and humans. The humans that received the vaccine (so slightly different) were women with late stace cervical cancer. The results were remarkable, and the downsides were minimal. The vaccine caused flue-like symptoms for about 12 hours, and then it was over. Ok, I wanted to write more, but something has come up and I need to get up or my wife will do something bad to me. Carlos |
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Post by DeDe on Jul 24, 2012 7:26:46 GMT -5
Carlos, Thank you so very much for your first hand experiences with this! The only way we can ALL learn is thru sharing and caring. Bless you and Sasha!!! |
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in the future!