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| Courtesy of Public Domain Images |
Hemangiosarcoma is a form of cancer found almost exclusively
in dogs. A relatively common canine cancer (6-8% of all canine cancers) it is
estimated that 2 million of 73 million dogs currently alive in the United
States will develop the disease and ultimately die from it.
At this time, it is considered incurable, as it remains symptomless until the advanced stages of the disease. The current standard of care, surgery and chemotherapy, have proven to extend the life to the affected dog a mere median of 180 days, with surgery alone, and an additionally 180 days with chemotherapy added to surgical intervention.
In the wake of these poor treatment outcomes, research has focused on early detection of the disease as well as a new, very promising alternative medical approach.
At this time, it is considered incurable, as it remains symptomless until the advanced stages of the disease. The current standard of care, surgery and chemotherapy, have proven to extend the life to the affected dog a mere median of 180 days, with surgery alone, and an additionally 180 days with chemotherapy added to surgical intervention.
In the wake of these poor treatment outcomes, research has focused on early detection of the disease as well as a new, very promising alternative medical approach.
Hemangiosarcoma
Hemangiosarcoma is an indolent cancer, meaning it initially develops
very slowly, asymptomatically and painlessly.
The most common primary sites of the disease are the spleen, right
atrium of the heart and the tissue beneath the skin. In the later stages of the disease, the
cancer aggressively metastasizes to the lungs, liver and intestines. While
dogs of any age and breed may be susceptible to hemangiosarcoma, it occurs more
commonly in dogs beyond middle age, and has a higher incidence in breeds such
as German Shepherd Dogs, Golden Retrievers, Portuguese Water Dogs, Border Collies and Skye
Terriers, suggesting a genetic component is involved.
The Canine Genome
The completion of the Canine Genome Project has spurred
research into the genetic components of a wide variety of physical ailments believed
to have heritable factors. Researchers at Modiano Lab at the University of
Minnesota have taken an interest in the genetic components contributing to
hemangiosarcoma. Three of the more promising approaches involve
mapping the risk alleles associated with the disease, determining the genetic, breed-specific
abnormalities of the tumors themselves and developing a blood test for early
detection of cancer cells via flow cytology.
The first project,
developed in collaboration with Dr. Matthew Breen, focused on the possibility of breed specific
abnormalities that may be detectable in tumors arising in dogs of different
breeds. The initial results were promising; the data showed that tumors from dogs
of one specific breed are functionally and genetically more similar to each
other than they are to tumors from dogs of other breeds. This information
demonstrates that heritable risk factors contribute to the development of
canine cancer. More importantly, these results are the first step toward
developing prevention and treatment strategies that address the specific causes
underlying the biology of canine hemangiosarcoma.
The second project of great promise, developed in
collaboration with the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National
Institutes of Health and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, has begun the
process of mapping the risk alleles for the development of both Lymphoma and
Hemangiosarcoma in the following target breeds:
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| Turkey Tail Fungus - Penn State's Magic Mushrooms see below Courtesy of Wallwork Family Pages |
- Australian Shepherd
- Bernese Mountain Dog
- Border Collie
- Boxer
- Briard
- Bullmastiff
- Cocker Spaniel
- Flat-coated Retriever
- German Shepherd Dog
- Golden Retriever
- Greyhound
- Irish Setter
- Keeshond
- Labrador Retriever
- Mastiff
- Poodle
- Portuguese Water Dog
- Rottweiler
- Vizsla
- Saluki
Researchers are currently seeking samples for this research
in the form of blood samples and tumor samples with associated pedigree
information. Samples from mixed breeds
and other breeds are welcome from both healthy (aged) dogs and affected
dogs. To learn more about how to
contribute to the project visit
the Modiano Labs website.
Early Cancer Detection: Flow Cytometry
Once we have a genetic test that can forewarn us of a
genetic predisposition to developing specific cancers, we will want to be able
to detect the disease at an early stage of its development, well before it
becomes symptomatic.
As cancer tumors grow, they shed cells into the blood stream. However, the tumor cells are shed so
infrequently that they cannot be detected in routine blood tests. Enter the
technology called flow cytometry. Here cells are “tagged” with fluorescent
molecules that identify their lineage of origin, they are then run
through an instrument (the flow cytometer) that combines optics and fluidics information
through a software capable of analyzing hundreds of thousands of cells in a
matter of minutes.
Researchers have employed this technology, and have successfully shown proof of principle for this test. Idexx Laboratories has licensed the technology from the University of Colorado, although the ultimate affordability of employing this technology in local veterinary practices tests remains to be seen. Another issue with this technology, is that it does not tell us where the site of origin of the tumor is. Early treatment will therefore need to be able to treat the disease independent of the site of origin.
Researchers have employed this technology, and have successfully shown proof of principle for this test. Idexx Laboratories has licensed the technology from the University of Colorado, although the ultimate affordability of employing this technology in local veterinary practices tests remains to be seen. Another issue with this technology, is that it does not tell us where the site of origin of the tumor is. Early treatment will therefore need to be able to treat the disease independent of the site of origin.
The Biggest Breakthrough In Hemangiosarcoma Cancer Treatment: Penn State’s Magic Mushrooms
In a University of Pennsylvania (U Penn) study funded by Chinese Medicine Holding
LTD. and released in September 2012, dogs with hemangiosarcoma were treated
with a compound derived from the Coriolus Versicolor mushroom, resulting in the
longest survival times ever reported for dogs with the disease.
The Coriolus Versicolor mushroom, known commonly as the
Yunzhi mushroom, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 2,000
years. A compound within the mushroom, polysaccharopeptide, or PSP, is believed
to have immune-boosting properties. Over the past two decades, studies have indicated
that PSP may also have a tumor-fighting effect.
U Penn researchers studied dogs with
naturally occurring hemangiosarcoma to see what effects, the Yunzhi mushroom
would have on their patients. Fifteen dogs that had been diagnosed with
hemangiosarcoma participated in the trial. Divided into three groups of five,
each group received a different dose — 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg/day — of I’m-Yunity, a formulation of PSP which
is also readily available over the Internet. The dog owners were instructed to
give their dog a capsule of I’m-Yunity, daily. The owners brought their dogs to
Penn’s Ryan Veterinary Hospital for follow-up visits on a monthly basis for
blood sample testings and ultrasounds to determine the extent that tumors had developed
or spread in the dogs’ bodies.
“We were shocked,” Cimino Brown said of U Penn. “Prior
to this, the longest reported median survival time of dogs with hemangiosarcoma
of the spleen that underwent no further treatment was 86 days. We had dogs that
lived beyond a year with nothing other than this mushroom as treatment.”
Not only had the dog’s survival times increased with the use
of PSP, but unlike chemotherapy, there were no reported side effects. Dogs receiving the highest dosage, 100
mg/day, had the longest median survival time, however the difference in survival
times between dosages was not statistically significant.
While not inexpensive, this treatment is certainly more
affordable than chemotherapy. Those on
tight budgets, may consider using this supplement at the lower dosage without
fear of significantly impacting survival rates.
However, it should be noted that while the PSP, I’m Yunity, extends life
and improves quality of life, it has not been shown to be a cure for
hemangiosarcoma.
The U Penn researchers are preparing to pursue further
trials of I’m-Yunity in dogs with hemangiosarcoma to confirm and refine their
results. One upcoming trial will compare I’m-Yunity to a placebo for those
owners who choose not to pursue chemotherapy for their pet; the other will
compare the compound with the current standard-of-care, chemotherapy.
The liquid form may be easier to administer. The capsules are 500mg, so you would need to open the capsule and shake out 1/4 of the mushroom extract. For larger dogs (80 lbs and up) you may want to give them one third of a capsule or approximately 165mg.
We will keep you posted as more information comes in from the ongoing Penn State Research.
For information on Canine Osteosarcoma please click here.
Here are some options for Organic Turkey Tail Mushroom Extract
The liquid form may be easier to administer. The capsules are 500mg, so you would need to open the capsule and shake out 1/4 of the mushroom extract. For larger dogs (80 lbs and up) you may want to give them one third of a capsule or approximately 165mg.
We will keep you posted as more information comes in from the ongoing Penn State Research.
For information on Canine Osteosarcoma please click here.