Current Clinical Trials

The University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Center is working with Ethos-PUSH to enroll patients in a two-part clinical trial. In part one, patients with a bleeding splenic tumor will undergo emergency surgery to remove their spleen. After surgery, if the tumor is confirmed to be hemangiosarcoma, the dog may be enrolled in the second part of the study, which will be evaluating the safety and effectiveness of chemotherapy in dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma.

Criteria:

• Dogs weighing between 5 and 45 kg
• Hemoperitoneum (blood in the abdomen) diagnosed via abdominocentesis
• Splenic mass present on abdominal imaging
• No documented metastasis
• No chemotherapy within 30 days of study entry
• No concurrent cancers
• No significant heart disease (ex. dilated cardiomyopathy)

Benefit:

• In part one, a $1000 gift is provided towards emergency surgery.
• In part two, costs of chemotherapy and recheck exams/bloodwork are completely funded.
• This knowledge will be used to bring about curative outcomes for dogs suffering from this aggressive cancer.

To Participate:

• If your dog is suspected to have a bleeding splenic tumor, please visit our emergency department to be evaluated as soon as possible. A complete screening (bloodwork and imaging) will be performed prior to enrollment and surgery.

For more information on this study, please contact: cvmclinicaltrials@missouri.edu with the subject pertaining to the trial of interest.

The University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Center is enrolling patients into a pilot study to evaluate the safety, distribution in blood, and efficacy of a novel anti-cancer immunotherapy in dogs with locally advanced or metastatic oral melanoma. This treatment will be used in combination with radiation therapy.

Criteria

• Between 5 and 60 kg
• Melanoma diagnosed by histopathology
• Tumor is equal to or greater than 4 cm in diameter, *and/or* there is metastasis present
• NO history of autoimmune or immune-mediated disease, colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, endocrine disorders, or hepatopathies
• NO chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy (including steroids, Apoquel, Cytopoint, etc.) within 4 weeks of starting the trial

Benefits

• Once enrolled, this trial is fully funded and all costs associated with the novel immunotherapy, radiation therapy, blood and tissue collections, and monitoring visits are covered at no additional cost.
• Initial evaluations and diagnostic tests, as well as treatment of side effects, may not be covered by the study.

To Participate

• Owners must be willing and able to participate for up to 29 weeks to complete the trial period.
• A full screening will be performed prior to enrollment at the owner’s expense to determine eligibility for the trial.

For more information on this study, please contact: cvmclinicaltrials@missouri.edu with the subject pertaining to the trial of interest. Or, fill out a short survey here.

The University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Center is enrolling patients into a clinical trial to assess the safety and effects of vinorelbine in insulinoma patients. 

Criteria:   

• Dogs with target lesion (>20 mm) or with persistent hypoglycemia after surgery 
• Histologic or cytologic confirmed pancreatic islet cell tumor or neuroendocrine tumor with high insulin-glucose ratio 
• Patient is a Non-surgical candidate or owner declined surgery 
• No significant comorbidities 
• Adequate blood work results 
• Patient cannot be on any other chemotherapy drugs concurrently (can include the case which failed Palladia and if blood work results are good, no wash-out period is required). 
• Patients with an expected survival < 4 weeks 

Benefit:   

• The primary goal of this study is to determine if vinorelbine can be used as an effective option to treat canine patients insulinomas.  
• After enrollment in the trial, the trial will cover the costs associated with the procedure, including vinorelbine, chemo administration fee, FreeStyle Libre device, placement, and interpretation fee.
  

To Participate: 

• Pet owner must be willing to transport their dog to and from the treatment center in Columbia, MO. 
• A full screening will be performed prior to enrollment. 
  • The owner is responsible for initial assessment, consultation, and staging to determine eligibility for the trial, as well as recheck fee, blood work, and abdominal imaging test during the trial 
• This trial will require a total of up to 8 weeks of participation 

For more information on this study please contact: cvmclinicaltrials@missouri.edu with the subject pertaining to the trial of interest. Or, fill out a short survey here.

The University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Center is enrolling patients into a clinical trial to assess whether using special stains for the sodium iodide symporter can allow us to identify tumors that are taking up iodine after a thyroid tumor has been removed. This would limit the need for expensive thyroid scans before surgery and increase the number of dogs that could be considered for additional treatment if their thyroid cancer is aggressive. 

Criteria:   

• Dogs with presumed thyroid carcinoma considered likely candidates for thyroidectomy 
• Patients who have received neoadjuvant radiation (external beam or I-131) or chemotherapy, exogenous iodine supplementation are not eligible.  

Benefit:   

• The pre-operative thyroid scan would allow radioactive iodine therapy to be considered as an option following surgery, if there were concerns that your dog’s thyroid tumor was more aggressive than usual. 
• After enrollment, the study will contribute $1,500 to cover associated clinical costs. This includes coverage of costs associated with the pre-operative thyroid scan, including sedation and hospital care (approximately ($1,055). 

To Participate: 

• Pet owners must be willing to move forward with surgical planning and resection of thyroid and surrounding lymph nodes.  
• A full screening will be performed prior to enrollment at the owner’s expense. 
  • Responsible for initial assessment and consultation to determine eligibility for the trial. 

For more information on this study please contact: cvmclinicaltrials@missouri.edu with the subject pertaining to the trial of interest. 

The University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Center is enrolling patients into a clinical trial to evaluate the immune response, safety and efficacy of a novel anti-cancer therapy in dogs with measurable oral melanoma. The goals include (1) predicting tumor specific proteins through sequencing of an individual’s tumor (2) documenting toxicity associated with vaccination with a personalized peptide vaccine and immune stimulatory medications (3) tracking the immune system’s anti-tumor response (4) decreasing the size/eliminate the oral melanoma. 

Criteria:   

• ≥ 5 kg 
• Tumor is located inside the mouth (e.g. maxilla, mandible, tonsil, tongue, buccal mucosa, lip) 
• Melanoma diagnosed by cytology or histopathology 
• Tumor is equal to greater than 3 cm in longest dimension 
• NO radiation therapy performed to the tumor prior to start of study 
• NO chemotherapy or immunosuppressive therapy (including steroids, Apoquel, etc.) within 3 weeks of starting the trial 
• Dog has not been recently vaccinated (>30 days) and not vaccinated during the trial 
• Dogs with distant metastatic disease cannot be included in the trial. 
• Dogs with local metastatic disease can be included in the trial. 

Benefit:   

• Once enrolled, this trial is fully funded and all costs of treatment and monitoring, surgery, peptide vaccination, Hiltonol, checkpoint inhibitor, bloodwork, chest x-rays, are covered at no additional cost to you while enrolled. 
  • Treatment of side effects are not covered. 

To Participate: 

• Owners must be able to participate for up to a year to complete trial protocol. 
• A full screening will be performed prior to enrollment at the owner’s expense. 
  • Responsible for initial assessment and consultation to determine eligibility for the trial. 

For more information on this study please contact: cvmclinicaltrials@missouri.edu with the subject pertaining to the trial of interest. Or, fill out a short survey here.

The University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Center is enrolling patients into a clinical trial to evaluate the feasibility, safety, efficacy and anti-cancer immune stimulation of a novel method of delivering radiation therapy, lattice radiation therapy, in cats with measurable oral squamous cell carcinoma. 

Criteria:   

• Histologic or cytologic confirmed feline oral squamous cell carcinoma ≥3.5 cm 
• No trauma or surgery within 2 weeks of trial enrollment 
• Adequate bone marrow, liver, and kidney function 
• No significant comorbidities 
• FeLV/FIV negative 
• No evidence of distant metastasis  
• No evidence of another detectable cancer 
• No previous RT to the mouth  
• No previous chemotherapy or immunosuppressive medications within 3 weeks of trial enrollment. 

Benefit:   

• Once enrolled, this trial is fully funded and all costs of treatment and monitoring, radiation therapy and physical exams for 1 year are covered at no additional cost to you while enrolled. 
  • Treatment of side effects are not covered. 
• Participants will be treated with radiation therapy, which is considered standard of care. 

To Participate: 

• Owners are able to adhere to the trials schedule over the course of up to a year.  
• A full screening will be performed prior to enrollment at the owner’s expense. 
  • Responsible for initial assessment and consultation to determine eligibility for the trial. (These tests may include, CT of the head +/- chest, +/- chest x-rays, CBC/chemistry/urinalysis, histopathology (if needed to confirm diagnosis) and lymph node cytology) 

For more information on this study please contact: cvmclinicaltrials@missouri.edu with the subject pertaining to the trial of interest. Or, fill out a short survey here.

Cutaneous epitheliotropic lymphoma is a rare neoplastic condition in dogs.  Current treatment options are limited and duration of response is often short. Laverdia-CA1 (verdinexor) is a conditionally approved oral tablet for treatment of lymphoma in dogs. Laverdia has been evaluated for the treatment of multicentric nodal lymphoma but has not yet been evaluated for the treatment of cutaneous epitheliotropic lymphoma.

Criteria:

• Histologic diagnosis of cutaneous epitheliotropic lymphoma
• No prior treatment with cytotoxic chemotherapy or radiation therapy
• No concurrent Apoquel or Cyclosporine
• No concurrent steroids
  • washout period of 2 weeks is required or if a patient will remain on the steroid, the patient must have been on the steroid for > 2 weeks. If a patient is receiving a steroid at the time of enrollment and is exhibiting disease progression no tapering is needed and the patient can remain on the steroid.

Benefit:

• Laverdia will be provided to owners at no cost. Owners will be financially responsible for the cost of recheck exams, bloodwork, urinalysis and treatment of adverse events.
• We hope to evaluate the objective response rate of Laverdia as an induction chemotherapy treatment for patients with naïve cutaneous epitheliotropic lymphoma.

To Participate:

• If you have a potential candidate that is interested in participating, please contact Dr. Laura Yannai at 636-332-5041 or Colleen Garrett at 573-882-7821. Or, fill out a short survey here.

The University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Center is enrolling patients into a clinical trial evaluating the safety of lymphodepleting chemotherapy and xenogeneic CAR-T cell therapy in dogs with spontaneous CD20+ lymphoma.

Criteria:

• Canine;10-50kg
• Patients with naive and pre-treated/relapsed lymphoma
• Chemistry panel: No evidence of renal or hepatic dysfunction, not hypercalcemic, adequate electrolytes, adequate bilirubin based on in-house evaluation
• CBC: Not neutropenic, not thrombocytopenic, and normal hematocrit range
• Cytology: Lymphoma diagnosis based on in-house protocols (not immunophenotyped, just basic yes/no lymphoma) and SVP shipment to confirm CD20 positive
• Ultrasound and radiographs limited disease at discretion of attending veterinarian
  • If meeting other criteria, but patchy spleen/liver = include
  • Internal disease is ok pending extent/location/severity
• Stages 1-4, substage a accepted
• Boxer dogs excluded
• Patients CANNOT be receiving immunomodulatory drugs (Apoquel, mycophenolate, cyclosporine, azathioprine)

Benefit:

• Complete cost of all treatments and re-rechecks covered by study, include initial staging and potential adverse side effects requiring hospitalization ($4k coverage).
• Goal of identifying maximally tolerated dose as well as pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
• Contribute to development of an important cancer therapy.
• Pet owners will be compensated $2k for completion of the first 21 days of the trial.

To Participate:

• Pet owners must be willing to transport their dog to and from the treatment center in Columbia, MO for every visit abiding by specific timelines.
• A full screening will be performed prior to full study enrollment.
• Participation will require pets to come to our clinic for at minimum 6 visits over 21 days.

For more information on this study please contact: cvmclinicaltrials@missouri.edu with the subject pertaining to the trial of interest.

The University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Center is enrolling patients into a clinical trial evaluating the safety and effectiveness TdCyd and Aza-TdC, novel anticancer agents, when given to dogs with cancer. 

Criteria: 

• Body weight of ≥15kg  
• Histologically confirmed lymphoma or solid tumor (lymphoma may be confirmed by pre-treatment biopsy or cytology) 
• Solid tumors: Solid, non-sarcomatous tumor, readily accessible for biopsy, with size of ≥3cm in the longest dimension, AND a draining lymph node accessible for AND amenable to repeated aspiration (with or without image guidance) 
• Lymphoma: Nodal presentation (stage 2 or greater) with at least 3 lymph nodes of ≥3cm in the longest dimension for biopsy 
• No concurrent chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Dogs must be off all such therapy for 2 weeks prior to study enrollment (exception L-asparaginase). 
• No corticosteroids or L-asparaginase for 7 days prior to study initiation (exclusive TdCyd and Aza-TdC administration required). 
• No hypercalcemia causing illness 
• Significant co-morbid illness, which includes, but is not limited to, renal or hepatic failure, history of congestive heart failure or clinical coagulopathy 

Benefit: 

• Complete cost of all treatments and re-rechecks covered by study, include initial staging or adverse side effects. 
• This trial is being conducted concurrently with human trials. 
• Goal of identifying maximally tolerated dose as well as pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. 
• Contribute to development of an important cancer therapy. 

To Participate: 

• Pet owners must be willing to transport their dog to and from the treatment center in Columbia, MO for every visit abiding by specific timelines. 
• A full screening will be performed prior to full study enrollment. 
• Participation will require a total of up to 10 visits over 2 months. 

For more information on this study please contact: muoncology@missouri.edu with the subject pertaining to the trial of interest. Or, fill out a short survey here.

The University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Center is enrolling patients into a clinical trial evaluating the safety and effectiveness for a treatment that is specifically intended to treat dogs with sarcoma.

Criteria:

• Histologic or cytologic confirmed soft tissue sarcoma.
• Adequate renal, hepatic and hematologic parameters.
• Does not have a current bacterial infection requiring systemic therapy and has not been treated for bacterial infection in the 7 days prior to study enrolment.
• No significant co-morbidities.
• No metastatic disease at time of diagnosis.
• No second malignancy that is not in remission.
• Has not received chemotherapy, radiation, or any immunotherapy within 3 weeks of study participation.

Benefit:

• Complete cost of all treatments and re-rechecks covered by study. Does not include initial staging or adverse side effects.
• This trial uses the body’s own immune system and patient specific malignant cells to combat disease.
• Induce an immune reaction against the tumor cells. It is possible that this immune reaction might improve outcome by reducing recurrence and spread of the tumor.
• Contribute to development of an important cancer therapy.

To Participate:

• Pet owners must be willing to transport their dog to and from the treatment center in Columbia, MO for every visit abiding by specific timelines.
• A full screening will be performed prior to enrollment.
• Participation will require a total of up to 17-visits over 1 year.

For more information on this study please contact: muoncology@missouri.edu with the subject pertaining to the trial of interest. Or, fill out a short survey here.

Non-therapeutic Feline Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Survey Study

Feline Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (FOSCC) is the 4^th most common tumor in cats and the most common oral cancer in cats. FOSCC can appear as a mass or an area of severe ulceration in the mouth, leading to pain and difficulties eating.  There is still no effective treatment for this disease. The University of Missouri Veterinary Oncology Service is conducting a research project and is looking for owners of cats diagnosed with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma within the past 10 years (January 2010-August 2020) to participate in a ~10-minute online survey regarding their cat’s medical history, and environment, (including diet, litter, etc.).

Criteria:

• Felines diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma.
• Owner willing to participate in an approximately ten minute online survey
• Survey participants must consent to allow access to cat’s medical records to confirm the diagnosis.

Benefit:

• Information gathered from this survey study will be crucial in determining potential risk factors related to the development of FOSCC, as well as possible preventative measures for cat owners in the future.

To Participate:

• If you are interested in participating, please contact FOSCCsurvey@missouri.edu to receive the weblink to our survey.

 Contact Faculty Person: Dr. Shirley Chu