CANINE BONE CANCER: THE BIG STORY ON OSTEOSARCOMA

CANINE BONE CANCER THE BIG STORY ON OSTEOSARCOMA Osteosarcoma is an aggressive cancerous tumor that develops in the bone cells of a dog and rapidly spreads throughout the body resulting in death. There is currently no cure. BY THE NUMBERS 10,000 DOGS DIÅGNOSED WITH OSTEOSARCOMA EACH YEAR 10xi MORE FREQUENT IN DOGS 10X THAN IN HUMANS O 20% TO 50% ACCOUNTS FOR ROUGHLY: GREATER RISK FOR MALE DOGS OF ALL 5% CANINE TUMORS 80% OF DOGS DIE s WITHIN TWO YEARS OF DIAGNOSIS OF ALL CANINE 85% BONE TUMORS OF CASES, THE CANCER 90% HAS ALREADY SPREAD UPON DIAGNOSIS 4,000 TO 8,000 DOGS DIE ANNUALLY FROM METASTATIC DISEASE OSTEOSARCOMA IS LINKED TO RAPID GROWTH AND IT IS MORE COMMON IN LARGE AND GIANT BREED DOGS. To counteract this trend, large and giant breed puppy food has reduced levels of available energy, designed to slow the time needed for large breed puppies to reach their maximum size. Believed to be fundamentally a genetic disease, there is currently no definitive connection between family members, yet osteosarcoma is certainly more prevalent in some breeds. Appendicular osteosarcoma. 75%-85% TWO OF THE MOST COMMON OF OSTEOSARCOMA CASES OCCUR IN THE LIMBS. CAUSES DOGS OVER THAT CAN BE LINKED TO 80 LBS OSTEOSARCOMA IN DOGS ARE RAPID GROWTH AND ARE 60 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP OSTEOSARCOMA BLUNT BONE INJURY. OF ALL SCOTTISH 15% DEERHOUNDS DIE THAN DOGS WEIGHING FROM OSTEOSARCOMA LESS THAN 75 LBS. DIAGNOSIS TREATMENT & PROGNOSIS The most common symptoms of osteosarcoma include swelling, visible lameness, joint and bone "LEG OR LIFE" pain, and even bone fractures caused by the weakening of bones due to the osteosarcoma growth. Currently the most effective standard of care, if the tumor If you notice your dog limping or in pain, occurs in a limb, is you should immediately contact your vet. to amputate to Using an X-Ray, MRI, or CT scan to identify prevent the the location of a tumor, a surgeon will then spread of the cancerous cells. When perform a biopsy on the tumor to collect cells to determine if it is indeed osteosarcoma. combined with adjuvant chemotherapy survival rates can be improved. CHEMOTHERAPY IS ONLY EFFECTIVE WHEN THE PRIMARY TUMOR IS REMOVED. 5-6 YEARS YEAR YEARS 50% OF DOGS 20% OF DOGS SOME DOGS TREATED WITH THE CURRENT WITH APPENDICULAR CAN LIVE 5 OR MORE YEARS STANDARD OF CARE SURVIVE OSTEOSARCOMA WHO HAVE AFTER STANDARD TREATMENT. AT LEAST 1 YEAR THE LIMB REMOVED AND (OR 10% OF A LIFETIME). UNDERGO CHEMOTHERAPY TREATMENT, SURVIVE MORE THAN TWO YEARS. THE FUTURE OF TREATMENT $5 MILLION Morris Animal Foundation has committed $5 million in new research, funding the next five years in the battle against osteosarcoma in dogs. FOR 5 YEARS OF RESEARCH RAPAMYCIN A bacterium-derived drug that has traditionally been used to prevent rejection in organ transplants. It works by preventing HO activation of T cells and B Cells. A previous study found that Rapamycin showed promise in the treatment of osteosarcoma in dogs. OH HO Two offshoot clinical trials are currently underway to study the effectiveness of rapamycin in post-surgery treatment of metastatic disease. HUMAN CLUES FIBROBLAST Recent studies have shown that the fibroblast growth factor signaling pathway is abnormally activated in a variety of human tumors. MORRIS ANIMAL FOUNDATION researchers are investigating the role of this pathway in bone cancer spread and its potential as a new therapeutic target. TAILORING TREATMENT TO INDIVIDUALS – cancer gene signatures have been shown to be good predictors of how a tumor will respond to a specific chemotherapy drug. HOW YOU CAN HELP With the continued support of MORRIS ANIMAL FOUNDATION BY ORVIS and people like you, answers to treatment and survival of osteosarcoma in dogs are within reach. Visit MORRISANIMALFOUNDATION.ORG for more information about the fight against osteosarcoma and Morris Foundation's many other projects. YOU CAN HELP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CANINE CANCER THROUGH THE ORVIS COVER DOG CONTEST. VISIT ORVIS.COM/COVERDOG TO GET STARTED. ORVIS Morris Animal FOUNDATION FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT ORVIS.COM