Knowledge Hub
Access valuable information to help pet owners and veterinarians improve canine health and quality of life.
General Cancer Research
The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) funds innovative research aimed at discovering advanced diagnostic technologies and therapeutic targets for treating various types of canine cancers.
Read More02215: A Cancer Vaccine for Canine Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is a malignant cancer that carries a very poor prognosis in most large breeds of dogs. The standard of care treatment for osteosarcoma is surgery followed by chemotherapy. Unfortunately, a large number of these osteosarcomas undergo early metastasis (spread) even with early surgical intervention and chemotherapy. Infections of the surgery site, especially when limb-sparing […]
Read More01093B: Positional Cloning of the Gene(s) for Gastric Cancer in the Chow Chow
Chow Chows are 10-20 times more likely to develop stomach cancer (gastric carcinoma) compared to dogs of other breeds. This cancer is very difficult to diagnose and is almost always fatal. Studies suggest that this cancer is caused, at least in part, by a faulty gene or genes. Although human studies suggest several candidate genes, […]
Read More01708-A: Validation of a general method for enrichment of canine cancer stem cells
Osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, and glioblastoma multiforme are three types of incurable cancers that are responsible for reduced quality of life and significant mortality in dogs. The processes that control the clinical behavior of these tumors is not well understood, but recent research suggests that a specialized group of cells called “cancer stem cells” (or CSCs) might […]
Read More01929-A: Arginine Dependence: Identification of Cancer’s Achilles Heel
Arginine is a nonessential amino acid. This means that some normal cells in the body can make their own arginine and, once they make it, put it into the circulation for others cells of the body to use for such purposes as making proteins. Interestingly, it has been shown that many tumor cells cannot make […]
Read More03019: Evaluation of a Targeted Anti αvβ3 Integrin Near-InfraRed (NIR-) Dye for Controlled Resection of Naturally Occurring Soft Tissue Sarcomas in Dogs
Soft tissue sarcomas are among the most common neoplasias of the skin and underlying tissue encountered in dogs. While they rarely spread to other organs, they tend to invade the surrounding tissues and grow unpredictably. Unfortunately, the surgeon cannot delineate these extensions by vision or touch, making it practically impossible to determine the true tumor […]
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The Role of Pollution in Canine Cancer
Introduction Cancer is a multi-factorial disease influenced by genetic and environmental elements. With funding from the AKC Canine Health Foundation, Dr. Lauren Trepanier and her team at the University of Wisconsin, Madison are examining how these factors affect the development of various cancers in dogs. So far, their research has demonstrated that canine bladder cancer […]
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Ripples in the Water – Chlorination and Cancer Risk in Dogs
Introduction Bladder cancer affects tens of thousands of dogs in the United States each year, with certain breeds like the Scottish Terrier, West Highland White Terrier, and Shetland Sheepdog being particularly susceptible. This suggests a genetic influence on cancer risk, but environmental factors also play a large role in triggering this type of cancer. We […]
Read More01502-A: Myxoma Virus Oncolytic Therapy in Mouse Models of Canine Cancer
Novel cancer treatments are needed to minimize patient discomfort caused by cancer therapy and eliminate failure of current treatment modalities. The use of oncolytic viral vectors is an exciting therapeutic option that deserves further study. This project was designed to determine if the poxvirus, myxoma virus (MYXV), can be used to eliminate cancer cells and […]
Read More03307-A: Vanishing Y: Unraveling Loss of the Y chromosome in Canine Solid Cancers
In human male health, the loss of the Y chromosome, a condition known as LOY, has been linked to the development and severity of cancer. We recently have revealed that LOY is also present in canine blood cancers, correlating with a more severe form of the disease. This research aims to expand this knowledge by […]
Read More02487: OX40 Checkpoint Molecule Targeted Antibodies for Cancer Immunotherapy in Dogs
Checkpoint molecules play a key role in regulating T cell immunity against cancer (T cells are one type of immune cell called lymphocytes). Clinical trials of antibody therapeutics that target checkpoint molecules such as PD-1 in human oncology (e.g., Opdiva, Keytruda) have demonstrated remarkable results in inducing tumor regressions and cures, against a variety of […]
Read More01686-A: Identifying Drugs That Will Kill Cancer Stem Cells
Grant Status: Closed Grant Amount: $11,965.85 Kristine Elaine Burgess, DVM, MS; Tufts University February 1, 2012 – January 31, 2014 Sponsor(s): Havanese Club of America, University of Minnesota – DAF for EIC Royalties Breed(s): -All Dogs Research Program Area: Oncology Donate to Support this Research Program Area Project Summary Metformin (dimethylbiguanide) is an established oral […]
Read More01093A: Positional Cloning of the Gene(s) for Gastric Cancer in the Chow Chow
Several canine breeds including Chow Chows, Belgian Sheepdogs and Tervuren, Keeshonden, Norwegian elkhounds, Akitas, Eurasiers, and Scottish Terriers have an increased risk on developing gastric carcinoma (stomach cancer). Furthermore, examination of pedigrees suggests that this cancer may result from a faulty gene or genes. Our goal is to identify the gene(s) that predispose this cancer […]
Read More0002214: Identification of a 5-10Mb BAC Set as a Cytogenetic Resource and for the Development of an Ordered CGH Microarray for Cancer Studies in the Dog
The study of aberrant chromosome structure has significantly increased our understanding of the cause and progression of human cancers. Many cancers are common to both dogs and humans, in part reflecting the high degree of similarity in their genetic material and in their environmental exposure to carcinogens. The extent and identity of chromosome aberrations associated […]
Read More0002214T: Identification of a 5-10Mb BAC Set as a Cytogenetic Resource and for the Development of an Ordered CGH Microarray for Cancer Studies in the Dog
The study of aberrant chromosome structure has significantly increased our understanding of the cause and progression of human cancers. Many cancers are common to both dogs and humans, in part reflecting the high degree of similarity in their genetic material and in their environmental exposure to carcinogens. The extent and identity of chromosome aberrations associated […]
Read More00878-A: MicroRNA Expression in the Domestic Dog and Its Role in Canine Cancer
A new group of genes, termed microRNAs, have been discovered to be associated with various cancers in the human. These genes are also found in dogs and have the exact same sequence as the human counterparts. Due to the great similarity between the human and dog, we hypothesize that these genes may also play a […]
Read More00910-A: Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and Cyclooxygenase-2 Cross-Talk in Canine Mammary Cancers
Mammary cancer is the most common neoplasm in female dogs, and malignant neoplasms account for 50% of all mammary cancers and thus it becomes a devastating disease in dogs. Currently, chemotherapeutic strategies are very limited in dogs. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a hormone, secreted by cancer tissues promotes tumor cell migration, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis (formation […]
Read More1093B-T: Positional Cloning of the Gene(s) for Gastric Cancer in the Chow Chow
Our work has documented an increased risk of gastric carcinoma (stomach cancer) in the Chow Chow as well as a number of other breeds including Akita, Belgian Sheepdog, Tervuren and Malinois, Bouvier, Eurasier, Irish Setter, Keeshond, Norwegian Elkhound, and the Scottish Terrier. In 2002, we initiated a database and sample repository for the study of […]
Read More01876-A: Ensuring That Emerging Stem Cell Treatments Do Not Activate or Exacerbate Cancer in Dogs
Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapies are attractive strategies for multiple immune, inflammatory and degenerative diseases in dogs and humans. However, there is accumulating evidence that MSCs may promote tumor growth and progression in some settings. Cancer is generally a disease of older dogs, the population of patients likely to receive MSC therapy. Thus, an understanding […]
Read More00825-A: Microarray Analysis of Immune Responses Elicited by CERT + hGMCSF in Dogs With Advanced Cancer
Many cancers in dogs go untreated because of the expense. A course of conventional veterinary radiation therapy, in the few parts of the country where it is available, can cost thousands of dollars. Sirius Medicine is developing Contrast-Enhanced Radiotherapy (CERT) to treat veterinary tumors with radiation at a fraction of that cost. Further, we are […]
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