Professor Rachel Allavena and Dr José Granados Soler urge owners of eligible dogs to apply for the trial.
(Photo credit: The University of Queensland )
A University of Queensland project could be a glimmer of hope for dogs suffering from inoperable or incurable cancers.
The project will test the effectiveness of immunomodulatory drug Enzistat in treating solid tumours caused by naturally occurring cancers, including soft tissue sarcoma, mast cell tumour and melanoma.
Professor Rachel Allavena from UQ's School of Veterinary Science said owners who had been told their dog's cancer was terminal or their pet's tumours were inoperable should apply for the trial.
"The 6-week treatment consists of oral tablet Enzistat being administered twice daily, regular consultations, blood samples and biopsies," Professor Allavena said.
"Enzistat is designed to target advanced cancers by activating the patient's immune system.
"Previous compassionate use trials showed Enzistat achieved tumour regression and increased survival time for palliative patients with advanced, late-stage cancers, supporting further evaluation in a formal trial.
"The research consists of 2 trials with the first focusing on terminal patients where the aim is to prolong their lives.
"The second aims to see if the drug can shrink large tumours to allow for surgical removal."
To be eligible for participation, dogs must have received a cancer diagnosis from their vet and be able to provide medical records.
Researchers will work with the dogs' regular vet throughout the duration of the trial.
The dogs must also have a predicted survival time of more than 3 months and be able to travel to UQ Gatton at least 3 times over a 6-week period.
Solid tumours are a common problem in canine health with approximately 1 in 3 dogs developing cancer in their lifetime.
Dr Jose Granados Soler said canine cancers could be treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy but expense and availability often prevented dogs receiving treatment.
"Immunotherapeutics is in its infancy in veterinary medicine and is a newly established approach in human oncology," Dr Granados Soler said.
"Our goal is to develop safe, easily applied immunotherapies, amenable to delivery in general practice at an affordable cost.
"We will optimise these therapies as sole or combination with standard of care treatments, giving each pet dog the best chance to fight its cancer."
UQ is undertaking this trial in partnership with drug discovery company Avammune Therapeutics Inc that developed Enzistat.
Avammune Therapeutics chief executive Arun Papaiah said beginning the first formal veterinary clinical trial with The University of Queensland was a monumental step.
"This trial is not just about advancing science, it's about providing families more time with their beloved companions," Mr Papaiah said.
"Enzistat is designed to be an oral, off-the-shelf drug that provides high-end immunotherapy results without the complexity of hospital-based infusions."
The trial will provide Enzistat and research associated assessments, with participants required to cover other veterinary costs.
Owners of eligible dogs should apply for the trial by contacting [email protected] .
