Hope for Canine Lymphoma Comes to Animal Emergency & Specialty Center
A pet’s cancer diagnosis is a nightmare that breeds uncertainty and concern for any pet parent. Every step towards better treatment has the potential to change lives. Canine lymphoma is a common cancer that attacks a dog’s white blood cells. It’s often diagnosed after finding enlarged lymph nodes. The standard of treatment for canine lymphoma is a multi-drug chemotherapy protocol referred to as CHOP… with few other options. Fortunately for dogs in Tennessee and surrounding states, a new beacon of hope has risen with the development of Tanovea.
What is Tanovea-CA1?
Tanovea-CA1 or Tanovea (the CA1 denotes “conditionally approved for one year” by the FDA) is an exciting new chemotherapy medicine for treating canine lymphoma. The reason Tanovea-CA1 is making such a splash is it boasts a 77% overall response rate in canine lymphoma clinical studies. While that’s less than the response rate to initial treatment with the CHOP protocol, it’s significantly higher than the response rate for cases of lymphoma that come out of remission and require additional therapies. This new agent is an opportunity to improve long-term success.
Where did Tanovea come from?
Tanovea-CA1 was developed by a start-up with ties to Colorado State University called VetDC, Inc. VetDC brought together a of group innovators ready to solve the ever growing need for new cancer therapies for animals. While cancer treatments for humans are constantly progressing, treatments for animals are slower to develop. VetDC tirelessly studied successful human cancer treatments, then modified successful human cancer therapies to benefit animals. Tanovea for canine lymphoma is the product of years of research and clinical trials, and has finally made its way out of the laboratory and into the world to start saving lives.
How does Tanovea work?
Tanovea is administered to the patient intravenously like traditional chemotherapy. The active ingredient in Tanovea is rabacfosadine which accumulates mostly in the lymphoid cells including rapidly dividing lymphoma cells. The medicine inhibits lymphoma cell lines by inhibiting DNA synthesis, forcing the cells to die off.
Who is a candidate for Tanovea-CA1?
Tanovea is exceptionally inspiring because it treats resistant cases of canine lymphoma. Dogs who have not responded to prior treatments like CHOP are considered resistant cases, while dogs who haven’t undergone any treatment are considered naïve cases. For dogs who have already received other chemotherapy protocols, Tanovea may be a final life-saving option.
Naïve cases are also candidates for Tanovea. A veterinary oncologist should be consulted to determine the best course of action for any case of canine lymphoma or lymphosarcoma.
Dealing with canine lymphoma? We have hope. Animal Emergency & Specialty Center is the only provider of Tanovea therapy in the region.