We are always striving to send your primary veterinarian up to the date faxes and newsletters to advertise treatment options that are available. Because this is not a foolproof method of disseminating information, always feel comfortable that you can call and inquire from any of our staff what trials are available.
This depends entirely upon the trial. Each trial is labeled with "eligibility criteria". These criteria are set to look at a specific population of patients with a particular disease. The most common reason for ineligibility of patients is metastasis or presence of life threatening disease besides their cancer.
- Assessing Dietary Management of Clinical Signs in Atopic Patients
This is a funded trial for diagnosed atopic dogs (based on criteria established for atopy) who are on appropriate flea control, have been treated for active bacterial / yeast dermatitis or otitis prior to enrollment and are not currently on immunotherapy (allergy vaccine). Dogs will be randomly assigned to one of two study diets and followed over an 8 week period with recheck appointments scheduled at 4 and 8 weeks on a Monday or Tuesday.
- Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease Study
The purpose of this clinical study is to determine the effect of a test diet on the management of idiopathic Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in dogs.
Clinical Study Overview
Ø Study is conducted in 2 phases:
o Phase I: 3-week food elimination trial
o Phase II: Dogs not showing resolution in phase I will be evaluated for inclusion for Phase II
Ø All dogs entering Phase II will received a standardized medical regimen for IBD in addition to being fed the Test diet or a positive control diet.
Ø Reimbursement is offered for minimum data base and 2 endoscopic examinations and histopathological evaluations:
Ø Dogs will be evaluated by Florida Veterinary Specialists at weeks 0, 3, 7, 11 during Phase I and Phase II.
Ø Enrollment will begin June 2005 and continue for 4 months
A dog is eligible for participation in Phase I of the study, if the dog:
1. Is greater than 1-year of age
2. History of chronic diarrhea for a minimum of 3 weeks
3. Exclusion of other causes of chronic diarrhea including but not limited to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, parasitism, infectious disease (fungal, bacterial, and viral), protein losing enteropathy, gastrointestinal neoplasia, histiocytic colitis, or drug-associated (e.g. NSAID’s, antibiotics, cancer chemotherapeutics) causes.
Client incentives
o Up to 100% of diagnostics to determine eligibility and treatment response will be covered by sponsor
o $25 per patient for each examination
o $250 per patient for study completion (requires submission of completed documentation)
- Canine Lymphoma Genetic Study - Currently Not Enrolling New Patients
Introduction
The purpose of this study is to determine tumor gene expression profiles (GEP) from dogs with lymphoma (LSA) prior to treatment with chemotherapy and at 1st relapse. Specifically, we plan to identify unique GEP that may define specific subtypes of LSA and that may impact diagnosis, treatment, response to chemotherapy, and development of new treatments.
Eligibility Requirements
ü Any K9 breed, age, sex in otherwise good health
ü Cytologically or histologically confirmed multicentric LSA
ü No previous chemotherapy or steroids
ü Staging diagnostics
ü Willingness to treat with the modified Wisconsin Protocol
o 16 treatments over a 6-month period
ü Pre-treatment blood sample and biopsy
ü Blood sample and biopsy at time of relapse
ü Owner consent
Client Incentive
ü The costs of the biopsy (including sedation) will be covered by the study
ü Histology and immunophenotyping will be performed at no cost
ü $500 will be reimbursed to the client at the time of relapse and subsequent biopsy
Contact Information
Please call The Oncology Department at Florida Veterinary Specialists & Cancer Treatment Center at (813) 933-8944 if you have further questions regarding the study or enrollment criteria.
This study is being sponsored by the Morris Animal Foundation and is being conducted in collaboration with The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and other collaborating veterinary oncologists.
- Canine Lymphosarcoma Trial - Currently Not Enrolling New Patients
Florida Veterinary Specialists Cancer Treatment Center has teamed with a local oncologic research center to test a novel lymphosarcoma vaccine for treatment of canine lymphosarcoma. The vaccine is generated through in-vitro culture and sterilization of the patients own malignant cells. This is a fascinating new area of research for lymphosarcoma in people that will be applied to veterinary patients.
Eligibility:
· Dogs recently diagnosed with lymphosarcoma.
· Otherwise appear healthy.
· Owners decline conventional therapy (chemotherapy, prednisone)
· No recent history of prednisone.
What’s Covered:
· Initial staging of the disease (CBC, Chemistry Panel, U/A, Abdominal Ultrasound).
· Cytology/histopathology, as needed.
· Custom vaccine manufactured from the patient’s own neoplastic cells.
· Vaccine administration, rechecks and follow up.
Who to Contact:
· Dr. Curtis Kane, FVS Oncology Service (813-933-8944).
Please call Dr. Kane directly to discuss potential candidates. This is a fantastic option for clients who are either unable or unwilling to elect conventional therapy.
- Mast Cell Tumor Clinical Trial - Currently Unavailable
We are currently recruiting dogs diagnosed with either grade II or grade III mast cell tumors for a clinical study investigating the safety and efficacy of a new drug.
Inclusion Criteria
- Dogs, regardless of the breed and sex.
- Owner written informed consent.
- Dogs presenting one or several histologically diagnosed measurable grade II (intermediate) or grade III (poorly differentiated) MCTs, and either recurrence after failure of surgery, or presence of non-resectable tumor.
Exclusion Criteria
- Lactating/pregnant bitches, dogs intended for breeding.
- Dogs under 6 months age.
- Dog weight strictly under 3.3 kg.
- Chemotherapy, including corticosteroids, with 2 weeks of treatment initiation.
- Surgical removal within 2 weeks of treatment initiation and/or incompletely healed surgical incisions prior to treatment initiation.
- Radiation therapy within 6 weeks of treatment initiation.
- Severe renal insufficiency or significant renal impairment.
- Presence of gastrointestinal bleeding assessed by clinical signs.
- Presence of internal metastasis.
- Presence of lymph nodes involvement.
- Absolute neutrophil count <3000 / mm3
- Other serious diseases (life expectancy less than 3 months)
- Liver transaminases >2 x N upper limit of normal and/or abnormal liver structure as assessed by ultrasound.
More trials are being evaluated by our veterinarians to determine whether they should be offered to our patients. Please call to discuss any details that you would like.
