Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs. Approximately one in three dogs will develop cancer in their lifetime, which is the same rate as among humans. As pet owners with sick pets seek out alternative treatments for their dog’s life-threatening conditions, it should come as no surprise that cancer treatments are among the most sought out.
With today’s advancements in cancer treatments and therapies, dogs and humans share a unique relationship, and it is this relationship that may pave the way for incredible advancements in cancer care in the near future.
Traditionally, human cancer drug trials begin with testing on rodents. The problem here is that 85 percent of promising drugs tested on lab rodents fail after the tests are moved to human trials. Unfortunately, cancer drugs have some of the highest failure rates. This not only creates a frustrating revolving door for researchers, these trials are also extremely costly.
From the outside, dogs and humans do not appear to share many similarities. However, when comparing our genetic makeup, humans share significantly more of their ancestral DNA with dogs than mice or rats. This remarkable breakthrough transpired in 2005, when researchers successfully mapped the first full canine genome, a female Boxer named Tasha.
When it comes to drug trials, one of the many advantages dogs have over rodents is the fact that humans and dogs have evolved together over thousands of years. We not only live together, we are also exposed to the same pathogens and pollutants that may cause cell mutations leading to cancer. Dogs and humans also develop tumours in the same ways, naturally, and spontaneously. In fact, certain cancers, like bone cancers and bladder cancers, are so similar it is difficult for biopsies to identify the difference between human and canine samples.
Enter Dr. Byram Bridle, a viral immunologist at the University of Guelph’s Animal Cancer Centre. Dr. Bridle, on the cutting edge of cancer care, is hopeful his research may lead to significant advancements in treatment for both pets and people. Certain bone cancers, specifically osteosarcoma, are common in both humans and dogs, so Dr. Bridle has developed an innovative new treatment for osteosarcoma. According to Dr. Bridle, “Dogs develop osteosarcoma at rates ten times higher than humans, and are just as much in need of alternative therapies as we are.”
Dr. Bridle’s new treatment for osteosarcoma involves two forms of therapy: oncolytic viruses and immunotherapy. This is intended to “kickstart a patient’s immune system to target and kill their own cancer with exquisite specificity,” said Dr. Bridle. Immunotherapy stimulates the immune system to destroy tumours, and oncolytic viruses, while harmless to humans, exclusively kills cancer cells. This inexpensive and non-invasive treatment consists of two injections, two weeks apart. Dr. Bridle does not anticipate any harmful side effects for the dogs under his care, with stringent attention being given towards the safety of his four-legged patients. There are forty-five dogs participating in this study, with hopes to begin veterinary clinical trials with the permission of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
Osteosarcoma is the disease that tragically took the life of Terry Fox at the age of 22. After running 5,373 kilometers in 1980, the national hero’s cross-Canada Marathon of Hope campaign was cut short due to cancer spreading to his lungs. However, the ripple effect from that point has been nothing short of monumental. The Terry Fox Run is the world’s largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research, with nearly a billion dollars raised in his name to date. The Terry Fox Research Institute is providing essential funding to Dr. Bridle’s research in the hopes that these clinical trials may pave the way towards more successful human trials in the treatment of this deadly form of bone cancer.
With the vast majority of laboratory cancer treatments failing once reaching human trials, Dr. Bridle’s studies may just be the beginning of a new era of cutting-edge cancer therapies that not only help our four-legged friends live happier, healthier lives, but may end up saving countless human lives. Truly fascinating, indeed. Here’s hoping the funding initiatives put forth by the Terry Fox Research Institute lead to more awareness and support from the public.
Would you like to support this initiative? Your support can make a difference by signing up for this year’s Terry Fox Run, taking place in Meaford on Sunday, September 15. More information can be found at http://www.terryfox.ca/terryfoxrun/meaford. Unable to participate? Donations are already being accepted.
Brandon Forder – also known as The Pet Expert – is vice-president of Canadian Pet Connection, a family-owned and -operated business located in Meaford. He has over twenty-five years of experience specializing in pet nutrition, behaviour, and healthy pet lifestyles. Canadian Pet Connection is an industry leader committed to providing their clients with the highest levels of personal, attentive service. Learn more at www.CanadianPetConnection.ca.
