AKC Canine Health Foundation announces new canine cancer grants

Sirikarn Rinruesee/stock.adobe.com

The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) – a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the health of canines – has awarded 3 new grants studying canine lymphoma, anal sac carcinoma, and bone cancer. These new studies are part of the CHF’s $4.8 million research portfolio of active canine cancer grants.

"CHF invests heavily in research to better understand canine cancer, which is so often a devastating and heartbreaking disease," explained J. Charles Garvin, MD, FACS, chairman of the CHF board of directors, in an organizational release.¹ "In addition to helping our dogs live longer, healthier lives, this research often provides insight into similar human cancers. We know that both ends of the leash benefit when we work together to fight cancer, giving us more time with our beloved dogs."

The newly awarded research grants are¹:

• Grant 03144: Lomustine, Asparaginase, Procarbazine, and Prednisone (LAPP) for Canine Multicentric Lymphoma: A Practical Multiagent Chemotherapy Protocol that Avoids Injectable Cytotoxics: Led by principal investigator Douglas H Thamm, VMD, Colorado State University, this clinical trial of new chemotherapy protocol will use drugs that do not require special handling. This could result in this treatment being more available compared to currently used chemotherapy protocols.
• Grant 03103: Identification of Genetic Mutations in Anal Sac Carcinoma Development in English Cocker Spaniels, Part II – Validation: This study, led by Shaying Zhao, PhD.; University of Georgia will explore the genetic mutations that predisposed English Cocker spaniels to this cancer of the anal sacs.
• Grant 03095-A: Cell-Specific Expression of MicroRNAs in Primary and Metastatic Canine Osteosarcoma: Geoffrey Wood, DVM, PhD, University of Guelph, will lead this study as its investigators determine which cells produce a promising canine bone cancer biomarker, which could help predict tumor behavior and canine survival time.

CHF dedicates one-quarter of its active research portfolio to exploring more accurate diagnostics testing and new treatments for canine cancer. According to the organizational release,¹ along with its donors, CHF donated over $17.7 million to study cancer at the molecular level, conduct clinical trials for new treatments, and understand how cancer cells interact with the immune system since 1995.

Reference

AKC Canine Health Foundation Marks Pet Cancer Awareness Month with Three New Canine Cancer Grants. News release. AKC Canine Health Foundation. May 1, 2023. Accessed May 2, 2023. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/akc-canine-health-foundation-marks-pet-cancer-awareness-month-with-three-new-canine-cancer-grants-301811739.html