LONDON and DENVER, June 29 /PRNewswire/ --
- Morris Animal Foundation Announces Dog Cancer Cure Effort In UK, With
Benefits For Human Health
- Symposium to be hosted by Royal Veterinary College, 12 July 2007
On July 12, a one-day symposium, hosted by the Royal Veterinary College
and Morris Animal Foundation, will address the number one cause of death in
dogs over the age of two -- cancer -- as well as "translational" cancer
treatment research, where the same treatments being developed to help dogs
suffering from cancer are being successfully applied to humans, especially
children. This is the single most intensive, dedicated event related to this
subject ever undertaken in the United Kingdom.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040701/LAMAFLOGO )
U.S.-based, Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) will announce its Cure Canine
Cancer Campaign to the United Kingdom. One in four dogs in the UK and
worldwide die of cancer; many more suffer its devastating effects. "With
canine (comparative) cancer research being a major part of RVC's future
Clinical Research Strategy and looking to help coordinate other critical
cancer research efforts in the UK and worldwide, we are excited to be host of
this very important and valuable MAF cancer research symposium," says
Professor Jonathan Elliott, vice principal -- research, Royal Veterinary
College. RVC will be presenting information on its new Clinical Investigation
Centre as well as a novel treatment strategy involving DNA vaccination for
canine malignant melanoma. (http://www.rvc.ac.uk)
"At RVC we are rapidly developing the appropriate infrastructure and have
built expertise in many disciplines (epidemiology, pathology, immunology and
clinical oncology) to make a major contribution to many cancer-related
research areas," says Professor Elliott. "This strategy is beginning to bear
fruit, with significant research outputs. We are keen to share this new
information and discuss ways in which we can work more closely with medical
and veterinary colleagues and the pharmaceutical industry to realize the
potential of comparative oncology research."
Presenters at the Symposium will include five UK-based veterinary
schools: Royal Veterinary College, University of Edinburgh, Cambridge
University, University of Glasgow, and University of Nottingham, as well as
the U.S.-based National Cancer Institute; two of the world's largest
pharmaceutical firms: Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline; a pet cancer screening
company: PetScreen; and the world's leading nonprofit foundation dedicated to
research for companion animal and wildlife health: Morris Animal Foundation.
Attendees will include business executives from health care services and
product industries, pharmaceutical concerns, animal and charitable
organizations, media and other interested parties.
Morris Animal Foundation, http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org, based in
Denver, Colorado, USA, was established in 1948 and is dedicated to funding
research that protects, treats and cures companion animals and wildlife. MAF
has been at the forefront of funding breakthrough research studies benefiting
animals in some 100 countries, spanning all seven continents on earth. This
spring MAF launched its cure canine cancer campaign in the United States and
now wants to bring its message to the UK.
"The UK is famous for its love of dogs," states Dr. Patricia Olson,
president and CEO of MAF. "Sadly, in the UK and around the world, cancer is
the number one cause of death in dogs over the age of two. We are working to
raise US$30 million worldwide to fund research to treat dogs with cancer now,
mitigating their pain and suffering, while working on a cure in the next 10
to 20 years."
Dr. Olson states that Pfizer Animal Health has already contributed US$1.1
million to the effort. PetsBest Insurance, a U.S.-based pet insurance
company, has pledged US$1 million, and the Golden Retriever Foundation has
pledged US$500,000, with additional donation announcements pending. Likewise,
MAF is looking to dog owners and lovers to contribute on behalf of their pet
dog. MAF has a dedicated canine cancer Web site:
http://www.curecaninecancer.org. "We hope UK dog lovers will go to this site,
read all about canine cancer, read case histories and stories from pet
parents and scientists, then make a donation in the name of their dog today
-- or dogs they have loved in the past." says Dr. Olson.
Dr. Olson explains that the same treatments being developed to help dogs
with cancer are being applied successfully to humans. "The theme of our
canine cancer cure campaign is Best Friends Helping Best Friends," she says.
Media interested in attending or writing a feature are invited to contact
Ian Reed in the United Kingdom at +44-(0)-1913737549, or Michael Burke at
Morris Animal Foundation, mburke@morrisanimalfoundation.org, in the United
States at +1-303-708-3419.
The Royal Veterinary College is one of the world's leading specialist
veterinary institutions. It is the largest and oldest independent veterinary
school in the UK and an independent College of the Federal University of
London.
The College provides support for the veterinary profession through its
referral hospitals, diagnostic services and continuing professional
development courses. For information on the Royal Veterinary College canine
cancer research programs contact Professor Elliott at vprpa@rvc.ac.uk.
Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) - Royal Veterinary College (RVC)
Canine Cancer Cure - Human Benefit Symposium
Programme
July 12, 2007
8:00 - 8:30 Continental Breakfast
8:35 Welcome: Patricia Olson, DVM, PhD,
President/CEO, Morris Animal Foundation (MAF)
8:40 Welcome: Professor Jonathan Elliott, MA Vet MB PhD, Cert
SAC Dip ECVPT MRCVS
Professor of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology and
Vice Principal-Research
Royal Veterinary College
8:45 - 9:25 Dr. Patricia Olson, MAF
Presentation: The Canine Cancer Campaign
9:25 - 10:05 Amanda Jane Craig, BVSc MACVS MVetClinSc MRCVS
Presentation: New RVC Clinical Investigation Centre and
Its Role in Comparative Oncology Research
10:05 - 10:20 Break
10:20 - 11:00 Michelle L. Haven, DVM, PhD, DACVS Vice President
Business Development and Strategic Alliances
Pfizer Animal Health
Presentation: Advantages and Risks of Evaluating Early
Pharmaceutical Candidates in Canine Cancer Patients
Outline-Synopsis:
I. Introduction
A. Aligning on the definition of Translational
Medicine
II. Stages of Drug Development
A. Human Health
B. Animal Health
III. Advantages of Human and Animal Health Partnering
to Progress Development of Oncology Candidates
IV. Potential Risks Associated with Evaluating
Oncology Candidates in Canine Cancer Patients
A. Regulatory Guidelines -- CDER vs. CVM
B. Other Considerations
V. Summary
11:00 - 11:40 Dr. Chand Khana, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM (Oncology)
Director, Comparative Oncology Program
Head, Tumor and Metastasis Biology Section, Pediatric
Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National
Cancer Institute
Presentation: Strategic opportunities to improve the
development of new drugs for canine and human cancer
patients
Outline-Synopsis: Cancers that occur in pet dogs and
humans share many features, including histological
appearance, tumor genetics, molecular targets, biological
behavior and response to conventional therapies. The
study of cancer in dogs provides an important
intermediary between mouse models and human patients, and
will directly benefit both current and future canine and
human cancer patients. The value of this opportunity has
been increasingly recognized in the field of cancer
research and now includes, the identification of cancer-
associated genes, the study of environmental risk
factors, understanding tumor biology and progression, and
perhaps most importantly the evaluation of novel cancer
therapeutics. This session will focus on the integration
of pet dogs with cancer into the development path of new
cancer drugs and the strategic partnerships that have
enabled this opportunity.
11:40 - 12:20 Anneliese Stell, BVM&S DSAM MRCVS
Royal Veterinary College
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
Presentation: DNA Vaccination for Canine Malignant
Melanoma -- A Novel Treatment Strategy
Outline-Synopsis: Canine malignant melanoma (CMM) is a
relatively common tumour in dogs, occurring in the oral
cavity, at mucocutaneous junctions and in the nail-bed.
CMM shares a similar aggressive biological behaviour with
cutaneous melanoma in humans. Tumours show local
invasion of tissues and early metastasis to lymph nodes
and lung is common. Although the primary tumour can
often be treated successfully with surgery or
radiotherapy, metastatic disease remains a major problem,
since malignant melanoma is poorly responsive to
chemotherapy. Survival times for CMM patients receiving
conventional treatments are alarmingly short (around 5-9
months). New strategies are needed to treat this
disease. Immunotherapy, in the form of vaccination, is an
active area of melanoma research, both in humans and
dogs. The aim is to stimulate anti-tumour immunity, to
prevent, or at least retard metastatic spread. DNA
vaccines are an attractive approach, we will explore the
extensive research being conducted at RVC, including
Genetic research
12:20 - 13:30 Lunch
13:30 - 14:10 Professor David J. Argyle BVMS PhD DECVIM-CA (Oncology)
MRCVSRCVS and European Specialist in Veterinary Oncology
William Dick Professor of Veterinary Clinical Studies
Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
The University of Edinburgh
Hospital for Small Animals
Presentation: From Telomerase to Cancer Stem Cells:
Lessons from Mans' Best Friend
Outline-Synopsis: Despite advances in conventional
treatments, cancer remains a disease of high mortality
and morbidity in dogs, cats and humans.
In 2001 we reported that telomerase could be considered a
near universal marker of malignancy in dogs and that
telomerase and telomere biology in dogs was closely
aligned with human biology. With the help of several
Veterinary charities, including Dogs Trust, Canine Health
Foundation and Morris Animal Foundation we have developed
a number of strategies to target telomerase including RNA
Interference and gene therapy.
More recently, we have identified a sub-population of
cancer cells that have stem cell properties. This has
ignited a hypothesis that cancer in dogs may be a true
stem cell disease. This has profound implications for
therapy, as stem cells have highly developed resistance
mechanisms for conventional treatments. We have recently
embarked on a new strategy to use genomic tools to
dissect potential targets in these cells that could be
utilized for cancer treatments. Although one of our
major goals is to improve the health and welfare of dogs,
these studies will also have implications for similar
studies in people.
14:10 - 14:50 Jane Dobson, MA DVetMed, DipECVIM Ca & Onc, MRCVS
RCVS and European Specialist in Veterinary Oncology
Cambridge University
Presentation: Sarcomas in Flat-coated Retrievers:
Epidemiological, Histopathological, and Genetic Studies.
Outline-Synopsis: As sarcomas are very rare tumors in
humans, the high prevalence of a specific sarcoma in
certain breeds of dogs is of comparative interest. Dr.
Dobson's work at Cambridge with sarcomas in Flat-coated
retrievers, from clinical observation, epidemiological
and histopathological studies through to molecular
genetics, will be detailed. Dr. Dobson will spotlight her
most interesting and valuable findings and anticipated
next steps in the comparative research process.
14:50 - 15:30 Kevin Slater, PhD
Chief Executive, PetScreen
Presentation: Biomarkers for the detection of cancer in
dogs -- Past, Present and Future.
Outline-Synopsis: Biomarker detection is becoming widely
acknowledged as a powerful new diagnostic tool for the
detection of cancer. The latest developments using Mass
Spectrometry enable multiple biomarkers to be detected
from a convenient blood sample. This multi-marker
approach facilitates significant improvements in assay
performance over traditional single maker analysis. This
has been demonstrated in the human field with a
multi-centre trial of an ovarian cancer screening test.
We will describe our experiences in the development of
the first commercially available biomarker test for
canine lymphoma, discuss its current application in
veterinary medicine and also speculate on how this new
technology can further assist in the fight against cancer
in dogs.
15:30 - 15:45 Break
15:45 - 16:25 Ali Mobasheri, BSc ARCS (Hons), MSc, DPhii (Oxon)
Associate Professor and Reader in Comparative Physiology
Post-Graduate Sub-Dean
Division of Veterinary Medicine
School of Veterinary Medicine and Science
University of Nottingham
Presentation: Metabolic, Hypoxic and Angiogenic Markers
in Canine Tumors: Prognostic and Predictive Indicators of
Malignancy
Outline-Synopsis: Humans and dogs are increasingly living
longer lives thanks to the advances of modern human and
veterinary medicine. One of the major issues associated
with a longer life expectancy in man and dog is an
increase in the incidence of cancer. The incidence of
bone cancers, skin cancers, and lymphomas is increasing
in humans and dogs. There are also significant
similarities between human and canine breast and prostate
cancers. This talk will focus on prognostic and
predictive markers of malignancy, particular those
involved in altering tumor metabolism, promoting
angiogenesis and adjusting to hypoxia. Recent work
indicates that increased glucose transport and metabolism
are essential for the post-treatment survival of many
human tumors, leading to poor prognosis. Human tumors
frequently show over-expression of facilitative glucose
transporters (GLUTs), especially the hypoxia-responsive
GLUT1 and GLUT3 proteins. Various studies have reported
associations between GLUT expression and proliferative
indices, whilst others suggest that GLUT expression is of
prognostic significance. With the discovery of the
oxygen-sensitive transcription factor hypoxia-inducible
factor (HIF-1) has come a new understanding of the
molecular link between hypoxia, deregulated glucose
metabolism and angiogenesis. Hypoxic and anaerobic tumors
are significantly more malignant, metastatic, radio- and
chemo resistant and have a poor prognosis.
There are over 250 publications relating to glucose
transport and metabolism in human tumors but very few
studies have been done on these markers in canine tumors.
Studying the bioenergetics of canine tumors will allow us
to gain a comparative understanding of tumor metabolism.
This knowledge may enhance existing chemotherapeutic
strategies so that treatment can be more rationally
applied and personalized for canine cancer patients.
16:25 - 17:05 Professor Iain Morgan, BSc, PhD.
University of Glasgow, Division of Pathological Sciences
Institute of Comparative Medicine
University of Glasgow Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Presentation: Integrating Canine and Human Cancer Gene
Discovery with Therapeutic Gain
Outline-Synopsis: Detailed report on University of
Glasgow research on telomerase as a canine cancer marker
and thorough investigation of our recent work using the
telomerase promoter as a therapeutic. In addition we will
present research progress on identification of novel
canine mammary carcinoma markers and ongoing work in this
area at the University of Glasgow.
17:05 - 17:10 Five Minute Break
17:10 - 17:50 Allen Oliff, MD, Senior VP and Head of Molecular
Discovery Research GlaxoSmithKline.
Presentation: A Tale of Two Oncogenes
Outline -- Synopsis: History of cancer drug discovery and
how it has changed over two decades. Cellular & Tumor
Biological Foundations of Cancer 1970, Empirical Cytotoxic
Success, Genetic Foundations of Cancer - 2000, Molecular
Oncology Successes, Empirical Cytotoxic Successes,
Molecular Oncology Successes, Historic Success Rates-Two
Approaches, Oncogenes in Human Cancers; Tale of Two
Oncogenes -- Ras and Erb-B, Why Do Some Cancer Targets
Yield Effective Drugs While Others Fail?, What We Know --
Still Need to Learn
17:50 - 18:30 Open Discussion:
Topics-Issues From Today's Program
Moderated by Dr. Oliff, Dr. Haven, Dr. Elliott and Dr.
Olson
18:30 - 19:30 Adjourn and Cocktail Reception (immediately following
open discussion)
Web site: http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org
http://www.curecaninecancer.org
http://www.rvc.ac.uk
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