CMI One Medicine Fund Supports Pilot Grant in Canine Osteosarcoma

By Julie Nettifee

Osteosarcoma is a devastating disease that annually affects thousands of people, as well as thousands of dogs. Currently, the standard method of treatment for successful management of osteosarcoma involves a wide excision of the primary tumor followed by the systemic treatment with chemotherapy. This typical standard of care, systemic therapy, can have minimal to severe side effects.

Researchers from North Carolina State University Comparative Medicine Institute, along with the collaboration of researchers at the University of North Carolina, are investigating a new method for delivery of chemotherapy that would enable them to better treat dogs with osteosarcoma after surgery. Based on the novel treatment in the CMI-funded pilot study, they hope to deliver a higher dose of chemotherapy directly to the tumor sites with a single treatment. Ultimately, the researchers feel this has the potential to benefit both animals and people facing osteosarcoma by decreasing some of the systemic side effects.

The research group, led by Dr. Marije Risselada, DVM, PhD, Diplomate of the European and American College of Veterinary Surgeons, was awarded the pilot study grant provided from funds by Andy’s Army through the Comparative Medicine Institute One Medicine Fund under the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Foundation.   Dr. Risselada is grateful for this sponsorship as it allows her group to take the first steps towards creating this delivery system and improving treatment options for pets and potentially people facing osteosarcoma.

Would you like to support CMI pilot studies to create discoveries that change lives in human and animal health through a tax-deductible financial donation? For more information on the One Medicine Fund, administered through the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Foundation, contact CMI Program Associate Julie Nettifee at janettif@ncsu.edu.