Patient Disease:  Canine patients with soft tissue sarcoma.

Study Name:  Canine Soft Tissue Sarcoma Vaccine Study

Purpose of the study:  The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness, and to establish the most appropriate dose of a vaccine intended to inhibit the growth of new blood vessels in tumours. The vaccine is prepared using the DNA from human blood vessel growth factors. Using this specially prepared vaccine, we hope to stimulate a canine patient’s immune system to make antibodies against newly forming blood vessels in a tumor.

Patient Entry Criteria:  In general, these studies are available to qualifying patients living within 100 miles of the Animal Cancer Center at Colorado State University. The patient must have the disease of soft tissue sarcoma, which has been confirmed by biopsy. The soft tissue sarcoma must be measurable and accessible to biopsy. The disease may not have spread to any other area of the body. In order to qualify for this study, treatment prior to presentation to the Animal Cancer Centre must have been very limited. The patient is not to have received radiation therapy, any chemotherapy, or any holistic medical treatment for soft tissue sarcoma prior to entry into the study. The patient must not have received steroids (like prednisone) or NSAIDs (like carprofen) for four weeks before presentation. No other medical conditions may be present  that might limit the patient’s life. And no additional medication may be given once the patient is enrolled into the study. For more information regarding entry criteria, please contact our Consult Coordinator at 970-297-4195.

Owner Responsibilities:  After the initial diagnostic visit, the client is required to bring the patient to  regularly scheduled visits for treatment and evaluation for up to a year. The client must allow a total of three biopsies to be taken (one pre-treatment and two during treatment) to assess the patientís response to the vaccine. These biopsy procedures require the patient to be profoundly sedated or anesthetized. No additional medication may be given once the patient is enrolled into the study. Procedures or treatments unrelated to the study will be the owner’s financial responsibility.

Financial Incentives:  The owner pays for the initial diagnostic work up, usually $300 to $400. The  study pays for all treatment procedures and for all evaluation recheck visits for a period of one year. For more information regarding financial incentives, please contact our Consult Coordinator at 970-297-4195.