Post by angelollie on Nov 3, 2013 9:17:47 GMT -5
Auburn veterinary researchers developing new therapy for treating bone cancer
"The American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation has awarded Dr. Bruce Smith, director of the Auburn University Research Initiative in Cancer, a two-year grant totaling $118,848 to test a new therapy for treating bone cancer in dogs. The research could one day be broadened to include many other kinds of cancer—and possibly cancer in people.
“We help the cancer cell become an agent of its own death.”
— Bruce Smith
The treatment consists of a virus normally used as a hepatitis vaccine in dogs that has been modified to only make copies of itself inside bone cancer cells. The virus ruptures the cancer cells, releasing thousands of copies of the virus from the tumor cells, killing them.
“By using this approach, we turn the cancer cell into a ‘factory’ that produces more virus,” said Smith. “You could say that we help the cancer cell become an agent of its own death.”
Auburn veterinary researchers developing new therapy for treating bone cancer
Bone cancer, or osteosarcoma, accounts for around five percent of tumors in dogs. Over 90 percent of dogs with this tumor have had tumor cells migrate into their lungs, creating what are known as micrometastases, at the time of diagnosis.
“This therapy attacks those metastases and will hopefully eliminate them or make them more sensitive to chemotherapy,” said Smith.
The Auburn University Research Initiative in Cancer was founded in 2012 to accelerate translation of cancer innovation from the laboratory to the clinic. AURIC embodies “One Medicine”—the concept that sees human and animal health as a single field where discoveries in one species advance health in both species."
I thought I would post this article that had recently been posted on other prevalent greyhound sites just to keep up awareness that more and more positive research is being done to help our greyhounds who struggle with bone cancer. I knew cancer in greyhounds was a profound problem but it wasn't until I searched other greyhound information sites that I saw the actual number of hounds passing from this horrible disease. Mind you, compared to the large number of hounds being released from the US tracks yearly, obviously, it is a small percentage that do succumb to OS. I thought my Angel Frankie was so young to pass from cancer at 5 years of age but I'm seeing other greys passing at ages 2 and 3 years, some never to experience their retirement.
I find it somewhat hopeful to know that besides the Ohio State University Cancer Research Team (Dr. Couto's team), we can now include the Auburn University Greyhound Cancer Research Team located in Alabama and I also read of Greyhound cancer research being done in California. Hopefully, one day this dreaded disease will be a thing of the past, leaving our greyhounds to live happy long lives.