Prednisone Treatment for Canine Lymphoma

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Lymphoma in dogs or canines is a kind of cancer described by a proliferation of malignant lymphocytes within solid body parts such as the lymph nodes, bone marrow, liver and spleen. The most common presentation of lymphoma in dogs is peripheral lymph node enlargement, in an otherwise healthy dog. This kind of animals disease also may infect in the eye, skin, and gastrointestinal tract. The disease also known as lymphosarcoma. 

Chemotherapy is the main treatment for lymphoma in dogs. Chemotherapy treatment is considered the gold standard for this aggressive form of cancer and usually consists of a combination of oral and injectable drugs given on a frequent basis. The exact treatment protocol will vary depending on the veterinarian and financial resources of the dog's family.

Prednisone Treatment for Canine Lymphoma

Prednisone therapy is the other dog lymphoma treatment. Prednisone is one of the most widely prescribed drugs in veterinary medicine, and also one of the most controversial. Prednisone is a corticosteroid that can kill tumor cells. However, it is not as effective as chemotherapy for treating lymphoma in dogs. Prednisone is primarily used to manage symptoms of the disease.  Prednisone at high doses is extremely immune suppressive, making it a key drug in the treatment of a wide variety of inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases.

There are several side effects of Prednisone treatment.

a) The most common side effects associated with prednisone treatment consist of increased urination and thirst, increased hunger and weight gain, and panting. 

b) Muscle wasting, which can result in severe hind limb weakness, decreased stamina and perceived decrease in quality of life despite the patient achieving complete remission of the lymphoma.

c) Changes in behavior: Prednisone use also results in dogs becoming restless and even aggressive.

d) Loss of hair and changes in coat: Hair loss is a frequent side effect of using prednisone on dogs. In some cases, not only does the dog's coat become thinner, the healthy sheen also disappears. Some dogs will also develop hard to heal skin infections.

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Company Pursues First Lymphoma Drug for Dogs

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An anti-cancer drug originally developed for use in people is in the hands of a veterinary pharmaceutical startup that aims to make it available for dogs within two years. 

Veterinary Emerging Technologies Development Corporation, or VetDC, announced recently that it has raised $1.5 million to develop an agent it calls VDC-1101 into what could be the first drug specifically designed to combat canine lymphoma. 

Lymphoma is one of the most common cancers in dogs and highly deadly.   

“Anything new that has the potential to enhance quality of life and improve the disease-free interval is a blessing,” said Dr. Greg Ogilvie, an oncologist and director of the Angel Care Cancer Center at California Veterinary Specialists in Carlsbad. 

Ogilvie, who is not associated with VetDC, said he sees about 300 cases of lymphoma per year. “Lymphoma is not just one disease but many different diseases,” he explained. “Without therapy, the average dog lives one or two or three months. If treated appropriately, they have a chance of doing well for up to a year.” 

Only two cancer therapies are available in the United States specifically for use in dogs, and neither combats lymphoma. Palladia in 2009 became the first canine cancer drug to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is designed to treat skin-based mast cell tumors. 

In 2010, the U.S. Department of Agriculture granted full licensure for Oncept, a DNA vaccine to treat oral melanoma in dogs.

All other cancer drugs used in veterinary medicine originally were developed for use in humans and are not approved for use in other animals, according to the FDA. Although not specifically approved for use in veterinary patients, the “extra-label” use of human oncology medicines is permitted under the Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act of 1994. 

In a twist on the theme, VetDC aspires to develop for veterinary use treatments, tests and devices researched for use in people but abandoned, according to a company profile in Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News .  

  

VetDC was launched in 2010. A year later, it acquired a license from Gilead Sciences, Inc., for GS-9219, an investigational molecule that selectively targets and kills cancerous lymphoma cells. VetDC renamed the agent VDC-1101. 

Steven J. Roy, president and CEO of VetDC, said in an interview that Gilead stopped pursuing development because the drug didn't meet the company’s expectations for human use. 

"They did a large amount of testing in dogs with lymphoma before going into human trials,” Roy said. “They demonstrated an 80 percent response rate and showed tremendous promise, but they were a human company and not looking to make a veterinary medicine."   

He added: "Vets hope to manage cancer like they do on human side, and treat it like a chronic disease where you can keep cancer at bay much longer. Hopefully, we can manage this in a way to give a pet four or five years instead of several months."  

Roy said he hopes the drug will be available within a couple of years.

Ogilvie, the clinical oncologist, said data on the prospective drug are encouraging. “We hope it will result in survival times suggested by the manufacturer. They suggest a 50 percent increase in survival. We are really hoping that will be true,” he said. “It's just going to ... take a while to get a good, clear understanding of the true benefit of it.” 

Source: http://news.vin.com/VINNews.aspx?articleId=25533

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Blood Test for Canine Lymphoma may also help people

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U.K.-based Petscreen has developed a blood test that detects early stage lymphosarcoma in dogs using biomarkers. The company found the test may also benefit human patients and is developing a similar screening process for people. The test won’t be available for humans for at least three to five years.

Petscreen has already launched a test to diagnose lymphoma in dogs and the business, which has won almost £100,000 of government-backed funding for its research, is now developing a simple blood test to determine if a human has early-stage lymphoma.

Their test uses biomarkers – a marker found in blood or urine that changes when a certain disease is present – to detect the cancer.

“What we’re looking for are proteins that can be easily detected in a non-invasive way, ie just from a simple blood sample which would then indicate the presence of a tumour. You want to be able to pick up the tumour early, confidently and non-invasively,” said Kevin Slater, Petscreen’s chief executive.

“The holy grail is to try to make these tests specific,” he added. Petscreen achieves this, said Dr Slater, by using an algorithm to measure a number of different biomarkers.

Through their research to develop the canine test, he added that “almost by serendipity”, Petscreen discovered that a similar test could be applied in humans.

With a £99,000 grant from the Technology Strategy Board (TSB), Petscreen last month began trialling its method in 100 patients with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Petscreen’s initial trial will take a year and any human test could take three to five years to get to market. If successful, it could simplify and speed up diagnosis, as well as monitor remission. Currently, lymphoma – the sixth-commonest form of cancer in Britain – is diagnosed through a biopsy and scan.

Petscreen was established in 2004 by Dr Slater, along with Graeme Radcliffe, a former journalist, after the pair met at a cricket match.

Dr Slater said the TSB funding will help Petscreen develop a ‘proof of concept’ and the business will later need further investment or a partnership with a major pharmaceutical company.

Source: www.animalhealthfoundation.net

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New Joint Venture Launches Canine Lymphoma Test

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A new canine lymphoma diagnostic kit can differentiate patients with lymphadenopathy due to lymphoma from ones with lymphadenopathy due to other ailments, such as lymphoid hyperplasia.

The Tri-Screen Canine Lymphoma Assay Kit is the first product to be offered by Tri-Screen—a new joint venture between Ireland-based animal diagnostic technology firm Tridelta Development Ltd. and animal cancer test developer Petscreen Ltd. of the U.K.

Petscreen developed the Advanced Lymphoma Blood Test on which the kit is based. The test combines relative values of the acute phase proteins haptoglobin and C-reactive protein in a patient’s blood serum into an analytical algorithm to determine if a patient’s lymphadenopathy is due to lymphoma or another ailment.

Canine Lymphoma Test

Petscreen enlisted support from veterinarians in the U.S. and the U.K. to test the method on samples from 194 canine patients with lymphoma, diseases with similar presentation to lymphoma, and healthy dogs.

Petscreen said it partnered with Tridelta because of the company’s reputation and experience with the international pharmaceutical industry in the niche sector of manufacturing and marketing acute phase protein diagnostic kits.

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Dealing with Canine Lymphoma

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Chemotherapy is extremely efficient in treating canine lymphoma. Most efficient are multi-agent chemotherapy regimens that utilize a mixture of drugs. There have been much more accomplishment with this program than with therapy utilizing only just one drug.

Eighty % of canines that obtain multi-agent chemotherapy regimens go right into a year-long remission. although it is feasible for them to expertise a 2nd remission, it is normally not as prolonged since the primary one. As some from the cancer tissue will produce a resistance towards the primary circular of prescription drugs used, there are heading to be a have to discover the proper program of prescription drugs for that 2nd remission to work. this can be accomplished by easy trial and error. It ought to be noted that even although the multi-agent program raises the dog’s existence span, they are much more high-priced and toxic than solo medicine regimens.

How profitable the chemotherapy therapy is is dependent upon exactly where the tumor is located, what phase the cancer is in, and how wholesome the puppy is once the cancer is diagnosed. Lymphoma from the bone marrow or even the thymus lower probabilities for any remission. canines that aren’t exhibiting any indications that include diarrhea and vomiting and appear to really feel properly in the preliminary diagnosis appear to respond far better to chemotherapy. part outcomes of chemotherapy in canines are typically minimal and mild. These might consist of deprivation of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting and lower blood vessels mobile count.

Prednisone, a sort of corticosteroid, can offer as very much as two to three weeks remission. This technique is utilized once the puppy is not a superb applicant for chemotherapy or even the proprietor cannot afford the cost of it. This essentially tends to make the dog’s remaining time much more comfortable.

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When The Diagnosis is Canine Cancer … (Canine Lymphoma)

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Canine lymphoma is the most common form of cancer in dogs. It can initally be limited to one organ or can spread throughout the body. Many parts of the body contain lymphatic tissue, and the disease can appear in different forms.

The most common target organs are primarily the lymph nodes, followed by the liver and spleen. The disease can also affect the gastrointestinal tract and, rarely, the eyes or skin.

Middle-aged dogs are most at risk, often after the age of 7 or 8.

Some breeds are more commonly affected, with the golden retriever, pit bull, Rottweiler, beagle and boxer often victims of lymphoma. In the golden retriever, there appears to be a specific inheritance pattern, although it is not yet completely clear.

In the common form, a dog has a poor appetite, feels “off,” and often has swellings that feel large and firm, especially in the neck, hind legs, groin and under the arms. These are large lymph nodes, and the doctor will usually take samples of these to send to the laboratory. In the gastrointestinal form, the patient can present with diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss or loss of appetite.

This disease is often very quick to spread and cause organ failure. The typical course from diagnosis to severe illness and death is often measured in months. In years past, we were unable to offer much more than cortisone tablets in an effort to make the patient comfortable for a short period of time. With the advent of chemotherapy, many owners choose to consult with a cancer specialist, or veterinary oncologist, to discuss options. Chemotherapy can be very effective at putting the disease into remission, sometimes for a long period of time, often without severe side effects.

If you should ever suspect that your dog might be affected by this disease, be sure to consult with your veterinarian. Often there is much we can do to be of help to you and your pet.

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Bone Marrow Transplant Now Offered as a Cure for Canine Lymphoma at the Veterinary Specialty Center of the Hudson Valley

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Canine Lymphoma
Wappingers Falls, New York (PRWEB) April 24, 2010

The Veterinary Specialty Center of the Hudson Valley (VSCHV) announces Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) as treatment for Canine Lymphosarcoma (Lymphoma). VSCHV is one of only 5 centers in the world, and the only facility in the north-eastern region of the United States where Bone Marrow Transplants are offered for your pet.

Lymphoma is a type of cancer of the white blood cells. The Bone Marrow Transplant procedure requires that the patient be put into molecular remission. At that time, cancer-free stem cells are removed from the patient. Radiation therapy is then used to eradicate any remaining cancer cells anywhere else in the body. The patient is supported in a state-of-the-art ICU facility during which the stem cells are placed back into the patient to re-grow the bone marrow and the immune system-- without the cancer cells. A successful treatment allows the patient to live a cancer-free life.

“Our dog was just too important to us; we had to try everything,” said Bob Akmens owner of Flopsy, an 11-year-old German Short-Haired Pointer, suffering from lymphoma. “He is part of our family and the BMT procedure gave us hope that otherwise would be impossible. I am so happy we found Dr. Impellizeri so we could give Flopsy a real chance at being cured.”

“Lymphoma is one of the most common cancers we see. A bone marrow transplant can be an actual 'cure for cancer' in 50-75% of the cases,” announced Dr. Joseph Impellizeri, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM (Oncology)-Medical Director. “As a veterinary oncologist, the chance to offer a cure for an otherwise fatal cancer is a dream come true.”

About the Veterinary Specialty Center of the Hudson Valley

The Veterinary Specialty Center of the Hudson Valley is a comprehensive multi-specialty practice with 24-7 emergency and critical care and services from board-certified specialists in Internal Medicine, Surgery, Oncology, Cardiology and Radiology. VSCHV has the most advanced imaging center in the Hudson Valley region with a 1.5T MRI, Computed Tomography, Digital Radiography, Ultrasound, Arthroscopy and Endoscopy. VSCHV is a leader in cancer therapies and offers a host of progressive treatments and minimally invasive procedures that give pet owners peace, comfort and hope. www.vschv.com # # #

Source : www.prweb.com

Canine Lymphoma

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Canine Lymphoma Symptoms (Canine Lymphoma)

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Canine Lymphoma

The symptoms vary according to the type of canine lymphoma. There are several types of lymphoma, depending on which part of the body that the tumor develops.

1. Multicentric - Tumor develops in lymph nodes as painless lumps on the neck, behind the knees, under the front legs and in the groin. This is the most common type, accounting for at least 80% of all canine lymphoma. It can spread to other internal organs such as the spleen, liver and bone marrow. In the later stage of the disease, the tumor causes obstruction in the affected organ and symptoms such as weakness, tiredness, loss of appetite and fever can arise.

2. Alimentary - Tumor in the gastrointestinal tract that results in vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea and weight loss.

3. Mediastinal - Tumor of the thymus. In the advanced stage of the disease, dogs develop breathing difficulty, fluid accumulation in lungs and hypercalcemia.

4. Cutaneous - This affects the skin, causing lesions, itchiness, redness, nodules, plaques and hair loss.

Source : ezinearticles.com

Canine Lymphoma

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Canine Lymphoma: Madison Wisconsin Protocol

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Canine Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a very serious and all-to-common disease in dogs. Some breeds are more prone to this type of cancer than others. Golden Retreivers seem to be especially susceptable to this type of canine cancer. Cancer is first and foremost an immune dysfunction disease. Lymphoma form when the body fails to recognize the altered lymph cells as invaders. These are the cells that have multiplied improperly. In the last few years specialized compounds have become available for use in cancer patients to try and correct this error. These are called immune modulators. These immune modulator compounds often trigger the patient's "immune recognition response" allowing the body to recognize and destroy the aberrant cells. When this recognition response is triggered, the body re-learns how to deal with the tumor cells as it would with any other wound, and destroys those aberrant cells, producing healthy scar tissue in their place. These immune modulators are different than the class of drugs called Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy drugs are toxic, and work by destroying the cancer cells directly. Chemotherapy drugs are very useful in combating canine lymphoma cancer, in that they reduce the number of cancer cells present, but they do not address the underlying cause that allowed the cancer in the first place. Immune modulator compounds on the other hand are not toxic. They are a class of compounds called heteropolysaccharides, which are naturally occurring in our foods and are required in all mammals for triggering normal immune function. For some reason, in cancer patients large amounts of these immune modulators are required to trigger that normal rejection response, which in turn kills off the cancer cells.

Canine Lymphoma

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