GOAL TWO:
To educate the public and scientific community about the biologic similarity of cancer in pets and people; also, to communicate the ways in which comparative oncology is accelerating the treatment, prevention and ultimate eradication of cancer.

In addition to discovering effective new ways for treating cancer in pets, ACF expects these advances may also lead to more effective, less toxic therapies for people. Because of many factors, including stringent regulatory controls, the development and approval of new anticancer treatments for humans is a lengthy process. ACF’s unique mission provides another mechanism for evaluating new therapies and expediting their application for people.

New Approaches to Cancer Treatment

Over the past several years ACF has collaborated with The Rogosin Institute at the New York Weill Cornell Medical Center in evaluating the effectiveness of one such novel approach that involves slowing or eliminating tumor growth through enhanced biological feedback control. Pets unresponsive to conventional cancer treatment options were treated with this new approach. Many showed dramatically prolonged survival (up to at least three years). In some cases, the tumors disappeared. This treatment is now about to begin human trials under an FDA Investigational New Drug License.

In another instance, a study of bone sarcoma in Rottweilers (a collaboration between Purdue University, The Gerald P. Murphy Cancer Foundation and ACF), has shown direct implications for children and adolescents with bone cancer. The findings were subsequently published in the world’s most widely read journal on cancer prevention: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. This study, too, is scheduled for additional investigative research.