Stuart C. Helfand, DVM
Results: Researchers Identify Potential New Therapy to Help Combat Hemangiosarcoma in Dogs
Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) remains one of the deadliest canine cancers, and dogs rarely live more than six months after diagnosis. New approaches are needed to improve the survival time of dogs that develop this devastating disease. Researchers from Oregon State University expanded on prior Morris Animal Foundation–funded research to further investigate a novel class of drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors, which have the potential to control the growth of HSA cells. Tyrosine kinases are enzymes that function as cell-signaling messengers, and their increased activity is associated with uncontrolled HSA cell growth.
Researchers found that inhibiting certain tyrosine kinases effectively suppressed the growth of cancer cells. Additionally, when tyrosine kinase inhibitors were combined with standard-of-care HSA chemotherapeutic agents, the resulting combination was significantly better at killing cancer cells. To this end, researchers have begun to apply their findings and are treating several dogs with HSA with dasatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor identified as effective through this Morris Animal Foundation–funded study.
Although it is too early to determine whether dasatinib is making a difference, the researchers hope to validate it as a therapy for dogs with HSA. HSA is a well-recognized problem in several dog breeds, including German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Great Danes, Boxers, English Setters, Pointers, Portuguese Water Dogs, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Flat-coated Retrievers and Skye Terriers.
George E. Moore, DVM, Ph.D. (D08CA-500)
Update:
Leptospirosis is an often fatal kidney or liver disease caused by bacteria in the genus Leptospira. The disease is transmitted by exposure to urine from an infected animal, usually wildlife, and its occurrence in dogs has increased in the past 10 to 20 years.
Funded by Morris Animal Foundation, researchers from Purdue University are investigating the frequency and geographical range of leptospirosis in dogs in the United States. They have mapped the geographical range of leptospirosis using more than 40,000 samples submitted to a commercial laboratory for testing over a seven-year period. Using this map, they have identified significant regional and temporal outbreaks of the disease in the United States. In addition to the known seasonal increase in the fall (thought to be attributable to increased movement and activity of infected wildlife, such as raccoons), researchers have also found a marked increase of the disease in toy breeds, likely because of lack of vaccination due to perceived lower risk of exposure in these breeds.
The research team has also evaluated the performance of several available tests designed to detect canine leptospirosis and have discovered that some tests give false positive results, with 10 to 15 percent of uninfected dogs being falsely identified as positive for Leptospira infection. This indicates the need for better diagnostic tools to identify infected dogs.
The researchers continue to try and identify specific strains of Leptospira that pose the greatest risk to dogs. To increase practitioner awareness and survival rates, Dr. George Moore, the lead investigator, has conducted several educational meetings with veterinarians to help improve detection of and treatment for this potentially fatal disease.
University of Florida - College of Veterinary Medicine
Disease: Degenerative Myelopathy of the German Shepherd Dog (GSDM)
Sponsor: American German Shepherd Dog Charitable Foundation
Report from Dr. Clemmons
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Read more: Degenerative Myelopathy of the German Shepherd Dog (GSDM)
Update: Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) remains one of the deadliest canine cancers, with dogs rarely living more than six months after diagnosis. New approaches are needed to improve the survival time of dogs afflicted with this devastating disease. Researchers from Oregon State University are expanding on prior Morris Animal Foundation– funded research into a novel class of drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors, which have the potential to control the growth of HSA cells. Tyrosine kinases are enzymes that function as cell-signaling messengers that when overactive are associated with uncontrolled HSA cell growth. To date, researchers have identified a tyrosine kinase– signaling protein that they believe is functioning abnormally. Low concentrations of a candidate tyrosine kinase inhibitor drug seem highly effective in reversing the abnormal activation status of this signaling molecule, alone or in combination with a second anticancer agent. Researchers continue to screen for additional tyrosine kinases that behave abnormally in HSA cell lines. Using a protein-screening strategy, researchers have also identified 25 tyrosine kinase–activated proteins in canine HSA cells that could be associated with cell growth. Researchers have begun to investigate these target proteins with several novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors to determine their contribution to uncontrolled HSA cell growth. Data from this study are encouraging and will provide the basis to continue the investigation of tyrosine kinase inhibitors as a drug therapy to improve care of dogs with HSA.
Update: Leptospirosis has increased in dogs in the past 10 to 20 years. The disease is transmitted by exposure to urine of an infected animal, usually wildlife, and can cause potentially fatal kidney or liver damage. In this study, researchers from Purdue University are investigating the frequency and distribution of leptospirosis in dogs in the United States and will determine the specific bacterial strains of Leptospira that pose the greatest risk in the development of severe clinical disease. Researchers are making excellent progress in mapping out the distribution of leptospirosis and have evaluated more than 30,000 blood samples submitted to a commercial laboratory for testing over a seven-year period. So far, after examining preliminary data, the researchers have identified two significant regional and temporal outbreaks of the disease in the United States. Over the next six to nine months, they will focus on collecting blood and urine samples to characterize different bacterial strains of the disease. Identifying common proteins among clinically important strains will greatly improve vaccine development and cross-protection. Researchers will also use the samples collected to evaluate the antibody responses of vaccinated and naturally infected dogs with the goal of developing future vaccines and better diagnostic tests.
University of Colorado
Disease(s): Cancer
Sponsor(s): AKC CAR, German Shepherd Dog Club of America, Golden Retriever Foundation
Researcher(s):Matthew Breen, PhD
Sponsor(s): Akita Club of America, Inc., American Bloodhound Club, American Boxer Charitable Foundation, American Bullmastiff Association, American German Shepherd Dog Charitable Foundation, Atlantic States Briard Club, Inc., Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America, Briard Club of America, Chinese Shar-Pei Charitable Trust, Collie Health Foundation, Doberman Pinscher Club of America, Flat-Coated Retriever Foundation, French Bulldog Club of America, German Shepherd Dog Club of America, Golden Retriever Foundation, Labrador Retriever Club, Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, Portuguese Water Dog Club of America, Inc., Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States, Rottweiler Health Foundation, San Joaquin Kennel Club, Scottish Terrier Club of America Health Trust Fund, St. Bernard Club of America, Starlight Fund, Vizsla Club of America Welfare Foundation
Breed(s): All (non-specified), Boxer, Golden Retriever, Portuguese Water Dog
Report Date: April 15, 2007
University of Georgia
Disease: Thyroid Conditions
Sponsor: American German Shepherd Dog Charitable Foundation, the AKC Canine Health Foundation. other breed clubs
Total Grant: $97,878
Report Date: June 30, 2004
Cornell University
Disease(s): Heart Disease
Sponsor(s): American German Shepherd Dog Charitable Foundation, German Shepherd Dog Club of America
Researcher(s): N. Sydney Moise, DVM, MS
Breed(s): German Shepherd Dog
Report Date: April 15, 2007
University of Pennsylvania
Disease(s): Search and Rescue
Sponsor(s): AKC CAR, German Shepherd Dog Club of America, Golden Retriever Foundation
Researcher(s): Cynthia Otto, DVM, PhD
Breed(s): All (non-specified), Golden Retriever
Report Date: April 15, 2007
The American German Shepherd Dog Charitable Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization devoted to funding research projects that improve the health of the German Shepherd Dog.