Background and Purpose of the Trial
Every year, about 3 out of every 100 dogs will be diagnosed with a brain tumor. Many of these dogs will be diagnosed with a glioma tumor, which is the second most common type of brain tumor and also, unfortunately, the most difficult to treat. One of the most promising developing areas of research for treating glioma tumors is immunotherapy, which is a type of intervention that uses the dog’s own cells to fight the cancer cells.
This study is looking at a specific type of immunotherapy called CAR T cell therapy. CAR T cells are created by doing a simple blood draw from the dog to extract the T cells (“fighter” cells), which are then infused with a Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) protein. This “upgrade” allows the T cells to target and attack the glioma tumor cells. This intervention has been used in children with brain tumors, but this study will be the first time it’s being used in dogs with glioma tumors!
In addition to the immunotherapy, we will be looking at a specific type of chemotherapy that has shown extremely promising results in canine lymphoma, along with human glioma tumors. This chemotherapy drug, verdinexor, will be used in combination with the CAR T cell therapy in an effort to produce the best possible outcome.
Who Qualifies
- Dogs who are over 10kg (22lb) in body weight who have already had a brain tumor diagnosed on MRI.
- Tumor must be surgically accessible to allow for biopsy and injection of CAR T cells directly into the tumor.
- Dogs must be healthy enough to safely undergo anesthesia for the biopsy of the tumor.
- Dogs cannot have previously received chemotherapy or radiation for this tumor.
Study Design
- Exam
- Blood draw to create CAR T cells
- Begin verdinexor (chemo) therapy twice per week
- On both days, we will give a drug that temporarily depletes the immune system to prepare your dog’s body for the CAR T cell injection
- The first day will consist of the first CAR T cell injection while the next 2 days consist of recheck exams
- The visits throughout these days will consist of a brief planning scan followed by the brain biopsy surgery. During the surgery, a second injection of CAR T cells will be given directly into the tumor.
- We will do a recheck an MRI to evaluate the tumor response.
- Verdinexor will continue to be given at home twice weekly until the tumor progresses based on neurological signs or growth seen on MRI.
Study Costs
The pet owner will only need to pay $1,000.00 at the start of the study to cover the cost of one of the medications being used. After that, the study will pay for the biopsy, treatments, and an medications needed as part of the trial.