Diagnostic Scan for Dogs with Solid Tumor Type Cancer
The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine is currently recruiting dogs recently diagnosed with cancer for a clinical research trial. This investigational trial is for the development of a future diagnostic imaging and drug delivery system.
- Inclusion Criteria: Any dog recently diagnosed with cancer. All solid tumors will be considered that have not been surgically removed.
- Procedures: Dogs will be dosed with a diagnostic radionuclide polymer and scanned with a machine that will take a picture of affected areas to determine where in the body the drug went. This is not a treatment study. Dogs will be released from the trial and be available for surgery or further cancer therapy after 24 hours.
- Cost: A $200 credit will be provided towards your bill for diagnosis or imaging.
- Contact: The Oncology Staff at the Small Animal Hospital 352-392-2235 or Dr. Rowan Milner at milnerr@ufl.edu.
Background:
The University of Florida is developing a unique method for delivering therapy to the tumor areas of dogs. This method uses a polymer that has been made at UF to target tumor cells. A polymer is a string of molecules connected together, like how plastic is made. This first study is testing the polymer drug delivery system to see if it attaches to your dog’s tumor and to see if it attaches to other areas of the body that could also be cancer that has spread. There is no drug attached to the polymer for this study. This polymer is water soluble and the body should process it normally. Attached to this polymer is a radionuclide. A radionuclide is a chemical that can concentrate in certain tissues or organs and emit gamma rays that can be measured with a camera. Radioactive Iodine to test the tisses in a thyroid gland is an example of a common medical practice where this technique is used. For this styudy, the radionuclide allows us to see where the polymer goes inside the body when we take pictures of the body using a special scanner. Blood and urine will be collected throughout the duration of the study. This is not a cancer treatment study. Your dog will be available to further cancer therapies after 24 hours.