982: Evaluation of Efficacy of Fasaret in Dogs with Osteosarcoma
Grant Status: Closed
Project Summary
The goal of this study is to establish efficacy of Fasaret in treating osteosarcoma in canine companion animals. Fasaret is a human adenovirus vector encoding Fas ligand (FasL), a molecule that binds to a "death receptor" called Fas (CD95) that is often highly up-regulated on rapidly dividing cells such as cancers, leukemias, and lymphomas, and on activated white blood cells. Under the appropriate circumstances, engagement of the Fas receptor by FasL induces programmed cell death. Osteosarcoma predominantly affects larger canine breeds. Spontaneous canine osteosarcoma is also very similar to human osteosarcoma, which, when diagnosed, occurs during childhood. This study involves administering Fasaret to dogs at the time of bone biopsy, 10 days prior to limb amputation, should the biopsy confirm a diagnosis of osteosarcoma. Dogs receive standard of care in addition to treatment with Fasaret, which is limb amputation followed by chemotherapy. Dogs are examined for two years under the study, looking at specified time points for increased numbers of dogs that remain cancer free, to determine efficacy. A total of 50 dogs will be examined at the highest dose in this trial, 26 of these dogs being funded by the AKC CHF. All 26 dogs have been enrolled, 20 at CSU and 6 at UMN. The treatment has shown positive results at 90 day survival. Future studies will address improved dosing regiments.
Publication(s)
Modiano, J. F., Bellgrau, D., Cutter, G. R., Lana, S. E., Ehrhart, N. P., Ehrhart, E., … Duke, R. C. (2012). Inflammation, Apoptosis, and Necrosis Induced by Neoadjuvant Fas Ligand Gene Therapy Improves Survival of Dogs With Spontaneous Bone Cancer. Molecular Therapy, 20(12), 2234–2243. https://doi.org/10.1038/mt.2012.149
Help Future Generations of Dogs
Participate in canine health research by providing samples or by enrolling in a clinical trial. Samples are needed from healthy dogs and dogs affected by specific diseases.
