CANINE CANCER TRIALS AND CANCER TREATMENT IN MAN.

MELBOURNE scientists say a new canine cancer trial has produced exciting results that could lead to a breakthrough in human treatment.Dr Noam Pik, head of the veterinary division at West Melbourne biotechnology research group Biotempus, is leading the free clinical trial and said early results were mind-blowing The 12-month trial, which is being conducted at 20 veterinary clinics around Australia, was launched in December and according to Dr Pik, several dogs had already shown signs of remission. Dr Pik said dogs were given a single dose of chemotherapy — a tablet — that did not target the tumour, but attacked (T-Regulatory) cells within the patient’s own immune system.If this trial proves effective, they plan to offer this service to canine patients within 24 months and then continue to humans. These cells suppressed the natural cancer-fighting mechanism of other (T-Effector) cells in the immune system ,if the T-Regulatory cells can be selectively killed, the T-Effector cells can get on with the job of eliminating cancer undisturbed. This method has been researched before but Dr Pik’s team has discovered a way to predict when the suppressor cells are most vulnerable — the optimum time to administer the chemo and kill the cells. The team discovered the immune system moves in cycles and can be mapped. Dogs are required to give blood samples every second day for up to three weeks, so experts can track their immune cycle and identify the best time to administer the drug. The last decade of research has shown considerable progress in the field of immunotherapy — using the patients’ own immune system to fight the cancer. The contribution of the tumor micro-environment is immense and has been previously largely underestimated. Thus, we believe it is important to aim treatment at both the tumor itself and the tumor environment with the aim of achieving more effective and durable cancer treatments. The chemo tablets cost less than $5, the treatment could potentially slash the cost of canine cancer treatment. The low-dose tablet is strong enough to correct the immune imbalance without the harsh side effects usually associated with chemo, such as nausea.