Dogs diagnosed with osteosarcoma may soon benefit from a nonsurgical treatment thanks to a new study.
A collaborative effort between ELIAS Animal Health, and University of Missouri experts Jeffrey Bryan, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM (Oncology), professor of Veterinary Oncology, and director of the Comparative Oncology Radiobiology and Epigenetics Laboratory, and Megan Mickelson, DVM, DACVS-SA, ACVS Fellow, Surgical Oncology, assistant professor of Small Animal Surgical Oncology, the study aims to offer an alternative for dogs ineligible for limb amputation–the primary treatment method for osteosarcoma–but also to potentially reduce the need for surgical amputation altogether.
“We’re trying a different technique where we’ll try to spare the limb and avoid amputation,” says Noe Reyes, DVM, chief medical officer at ELIAS Animal Health and the study’s principal investigator. “If successful, we could hopefully open a new treatment option for the appropriate patient candidates.”
Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone tumor diagnosed in dogs, impacting more than 10,000 dogs annually. This form of cancer disproportionately affects the long bones of large- and giant-breed dogs. While surgical amputation, followed by chemotherapy, proves effective for some, it is not a viable option for all dogs.
“I believe that amputation has been a significant barrier in embracing the immunotherapy process for some families,” says Dr. Bryan. “If we can establish that surgical limb sparing is a viable route to achieving a robust immune response, it would be very exciting for many pet owners.”
The study is part of a broader donor-inspired initiative at Morris Animal Foundation. For more information, click here.