We love our pets, and we dread the day they might get a disease like cancer. Now, thanks to researchers at the University of Kansas Medical Center, curing tumors in man’s best friend also may provide a new treatment for human patients—injectable chemotherapy.
Dr. Dan Aries, a researcher and also head of Dermatology at the University of Kansas Hospital, is excited by promising results on pet dogs that are participating in a clinical trial at the Med Center. “We have a technology that allows the chemotherapy to be wrapped inside another compound and delivered directly into the tumor,” he said. “It’s like a burrito with a protective wrap, and it means fewer side effects from treatment.” Dr. Aires notes that his clinical trial, operating with the cooperation of local veterinarians, is curing tumors in pet dogs and paving the way for the first clinical trials in humans in a few years.
The video includes sound with Dr. Dan Aires describing his research, how it works, the results he’s seen so far, and the possible implications for humans. Lacy Duffett is the childhood owner of Cody, an 11 year old shepherd mix who was declared cancer free just months after he received a revolutionary injectable cancer-fighting chemotherapy regimen. She talks about how they knew something was wrong with Cody, how he’s been doing since the treatment and why it’s exciting to know Cody could help in human cancer treatment. Elaine Schindel is Cody’s current owner and a cancer survivor and talks about her hopes for the research. Also included is video of Cody playing in a park.