For additional information please call the Oncology Service at (608) 890-0422 or email at oncclinicaltrials@vetmed.wisc.edu
NEW 4/27/23 Dogs with Malignant Melanoma
S21028 – A multicenter, placebo-controlled field study evaluating a new investigational drug in dogs with malignant melanoma (except melanoma confined to the lip): The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a new investigational drug compared to a control (placebo) group in dogs with malignant melanoma using progression-free survival (PFS) at 6 months after randomization. PFS is the length of time during and after the treatment of a disease, such as cancer, that a patient lives with the disease, but it does not get worse.
Eligible dogs will be randomized to receive the investigational drug or placebo once every 2 weeks for 168 days. There will be a 33.3% chance of being randomized to the placebo group in this study. During the course of the study, routine blood work, urinalysis and thoracic radiographs will be performed. At 6 months after starting treatment, PFS will be compared between the investigational drug and the placebo group.
As an incentive, patients who were receiving the placebo and confirmed progressive disease at day 56 or later can get the investigational drug for 6 months. Furthermore, patients who were receiving the investigational drug and doing well can keep receiving the investigational drug for an additional 6 months.
For further information or to enroll a potential patient, please contact our clinical trials interns Tricia Hu and Christen Montesanto or email oncclinicaltrials@wisc.edu.
Visbiome Vs Metronidazole for diarrhea in dogs with lymphoma on CHOP
The UWVC Oncology service is evaluating the efficacy of a probiotic (Visbiome Vet®), compared to traditionally used metronidazole for the management of chemotherapy induced diarrhea in dogs with multicentric lymphoma receiving a 19-week CHOP chemotherapy protocol.
Dogs with a confirmed diagnosis of multicentric lymphoma whose owners present to the UWVC oncology service for consultation and elect to treat their dog with 19-week CHOP protocol will be given the option to participate in the clinical trial. Dogs will be randomized into either the Visbiome® Vet or metronidazole treatment groups.
Owners of patients in both groups will be instructed to keep a diary once enrolled in the trial to monitor stool frequency, consistency, and schedule. Diet and medications will also be recorded; owners will be instructed to keep their dog’s diet consistent. Owners will start the respective diarrhea management medication once stools reach a fecal score of >4 (Fecal Scoring System, Nestle Purina PetCare Company, St. Louis, MO), or increased frequency or urgency from baseline is noted. The Fecal Scoring System will be provided for owners, and they will also be encouraged to take photos of their dogs’ eliminations. Stool samples will be collected at baseline/enrollment, prior to each doxorubicin administration, and 1 month after completion of chemotherapy. These samples will be analyzed in future research with consultation with the Gastrointestinal lab at Texas A&M University.
Owners will be financially responsible all costs associated with diagnosis of multicentric lymphoma and treatment with CHOP chemotherapy with the exception of recheck examination fees for timepoints associated with fecal sample collection, which will be covered by the study as client incentive. The cost of metronidazole or Visbiome® Vet (depending upon their randomized group) will be paid for by the study.
For further information or to enroll a potential patient, please contact Ann Marie Picone (apicone2@wisc.edu), MacKenzie Pellin (mackenzie.pellin@wisc.edu), or the clinical trials interns: Tricia Hu (tghu@wisc.edu) and Christen Montesanto (cmontesanto@wisc.edu).
Dogs with Histologically confirmed, high-grade lymphoma or non-sarcomatous solid tumors
This is a trial led by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to assesses the safety and effectiveness of TdCyd and Aza-TdC, novel anticancer agents in dogs with cancer. This study will complement currently open human trials designed to test new doses and effects of these agents.
Both newly diagnosed and those with recurrent/relapsed disease are eligible to participate.
Prior to entry into this study, your dog must have a confirmed diagnosis of cancer and staging tests to ensure his/her general health and to evaluate how advanced the disease is prior to treatment. Costs to owner before confirming eligibility: $750-1000, depending on type of cancer and tests already done. These are routine staging costs and will be used to determine eligibility for the study.
Within this study, we will obtain serial biopsies of your dog’s tumor. A biopsy will be collected prior to the first dose of drug (pre-treatment), on Day 8, Day 12 and possibly on Day 22 depending on how your dog has responded to therapy. Each of these biopsy sessions will occur under sedation or general anesthesia. Your dog will return to the UW on Days 8, 12, 15 and 22. Serial blood collections (5 time points) will occur on Day 1 of the study. Subsequent, single collections will occur on Days 8, 12, 15 and 22. You will be required to administer study medication at home on Days 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, and 11. If any complications arise from study drug administration, their management will be covered by study funds.
Lymphoma Flyer
We are evaluating the effectiveness and safety of verdinexor for the treatment of Lymphoma in dogs. The study will evaluate verdinexor compared to a placebo (a tablet that does not contain verdinexor). Dogs will have a 1 in 5 chance of receiving the placebo. Your participation in the study will be for 56 days, during which time you will need to bring your dog to UW Veterinary Care for scheduled or unscheduled follow-up visits.
- Owner Requirements: Your dog’s living environment and feeding habits during the duration of the study are up to you – at your discretion, except that you must give the investigational treatment with food or just after feeding your dog a meal or a “snack”.
- Study Visits: You will need to bring your dog in to UW Veterinary Care for the Day 0, 7 (± 2), 14 (± 2), 28 (± 3), 42 (± 3) and 56 (± 3) visits. Depending on how your dog is feeling, you may also be required to bring him/her for unscheduled visits. You will receive a phone call on Day 4 to determine if your dog should be re-evaluated before the scheduled Day 7 visit.
- Dosing: You will dose your dog at home orally twice per week with at least 72 hours between doses, at approximately the same time each day and record this information
- Monitoring: You should monitor your dog for any abnormal health observation during the study and record this information. You must contact the veterinarian as soon as possible should you have any concern.
- Costs: If you elect to enroll your dog in the study, the study will provide the investigational treatment to be used during the study and pay for the study-related cost of the examinations and tests. If your dog has any adverse events that are study related and require treatment, the study will cover the costs of reasonable treatment.
Lymphoma in Boxer Dogs:
Environmental Chemicals and Lymphoma in Boxer Dogs
Boxer Lymphoma Flyer
Lymphoma is a fatal cancer of the blood cells in dogs. The boxer breed is at higher risk, but the reasons for this are not understood. Lymphoma in people is associated with toxic chemicals in the environment. We are looking to see if the same is true for dogs. The goal of this study is to see whether certain environmental chemicals contribute to lymphoma risk in dogs, starting with the boxer breed.
Any purebred boxer dog diagnosed with lymphoma by a veterinarian performing cytology or biopsy may be eligible for this study. Dogs must be enrolled before any chemotherapy is started, but prednisone is allowed. We are also seeking healthy unaffected boxers to act as controls. The owner will collect a voided 25 mL urine sample (about 2 tablespoons) from the dog using a kit that will be mailed to the dog’s home. We also ask the owner to fill out a questionnaire about their dog’s household environment and to collect drinking water and air samples from the home using materials that we provide.
To learn more about this study, please contact Hannah Peterson or Dr. Lauren Trepanier, both at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine.
MELANOMA WITHOUT METASTASIS:
Evaluation of a Novel Immunotherapy in Combination with Radiation Therapy in Dogs
ATTENTION! Phase 3 of this trial started enrolling patients
In a study funded by the Veterans Administration we will evaluate the effect of a novel immunotherapy agent administered into the tumor in combination with radiation therapy.
Dogs with melanoma that have a tumor accessible for intratumor injection may be eligible for this study. There will be 2 treatment groups: one group will receive one dose of radiation and one group will receive 3 doses of radiation, both groups will then receive daily injections for 3 days of the immunotherapy agent into the the tumor. Following treatment, dogs will return to UWVC for evaluation on days 10, 17, 24, 30, and 60.
Once a dog is deemed eligible for the study, all costs related to the study will be covered including the radiation therapy and immunotherapy.