The Navy Protocol for Hemangiopericytoma

History

• Navy was a dog with hemangiopericytoma cancer. Hemangiopericytoma is a tumor that appears as a round nodule on the limbs of dogs. This type of tumor does not spread through the body as most cancers do, but stays localized. Once treated, if it returns it returns to the original area until it outgrows the area; if untreated, then it may spread to the chest cavity.

Treatment

• The experimental treatment began in 2000 using anti-angiogenic drugs. These drugs starve tumors of their blood supply thereby killing them. Scientists used three anti-angiogenic drugs as a cocktail, which was mixed into the dog's food. The scientists felt this would attack the tumor from many angles, thereby ridding the dog of the tumor. The cocktail worked and by early 2001, Navy was cancer-free.

Significance

• Anti-angiogenic drugs have been tested on humans since the 1990s with success. Researchers proving these drugs also work to cure canine tumors opened up a new field of research for these drugs. The drugs also had no apparent side effects which led to a better quality of life for both humans and dogs. Testing of the drugs is ongoing in an effort to improve the cancer-fighting results.