The Animal Cancer Center (ACC) at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching
Hospital is studying a promising combination of a new and an old cancer
drug that may increase chemotherapy effectiveness without increasing unwanted
side effects. The study may eventually be useful for the treatment of both
human and animal cancer.
The ACC is combining a common chemotherapy drug, called doxorubicin or
Adriamycin, with valproic acid, also called Depakote, a drug that previously
has been used to treat seizures in dogs and humans. An enzyme called histone
deacetylase, which may reduce the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapy,
can be inhibited with valproic acid.
"By combining these drugs, we think we may make chemotherapy more effective.
We think they are stronger together," said Dr. Douglas Thamm, a Professor
in the Department of Clinical Sciences and researcher at the ACC. "Both
of these drugs are widely available in generic forms, making them more affordable.
Our current study will help identify the optimal dose of valproic acid for
use in dogs, and we hope it will lead to providing these drugs as a viable,
affordable option for pets and humans facing bone cancer treatment choices."
Dogs in the study will receive valproic acid for several days before receiving
a standard dose of doxorubicin. Veterinarians will be looking for common
side effects of the drug such as liver issues and sleepiness to help identify
the right combination. They'll also look at the impacts of the drug on
the histone deacetylase enzyme and the effects of the drug combination
on the size and spread of tumors.
Valproic acid has been shown in previous tests to "open up" the
DNA of cancer cells by inhibiting the histone deacetylase enzyme. The drug
may change the actual structure of the cancer cell's DNA, allowing chemotherapy
drugs like doxorubicin to cause more damage.
While this combination of drugs has shown much promise in the laboratory,
it's sometimes difficult to get drug combinations into human trials without
years of additional research, Dr. Thamm said. "This study will allow
us to help dogs with cancer and provide information that may be helpful
in future human trials. Both of these drugs have been approved by the Food
and Drug Administration for use in humans for many years, but we hope our
research into their use in combination will help develop the information
needed for the drugs to be considered as a treatment together."
People interested in getting their dog involved in the drug trial should
contact the Animal Cancer Center at (970) 297-4195. Dogs must undergo testing
prior to the study to ensure that they are eligible and must meet certain
other requirements. All treatments must be performed at Colorado State
University.
