Animal owners interested in participating in a study are encouraged to discuss their eligibility for any relevant study with their veterinarian.
- Project Description
Intestinal dysbiosis is an alteration in the composition and/or richness of the intestinal microbiota. Intestinal dysbiosis has been associated with tumor progression of colorectal, lung, and breast cancer in human patients. Proposed mechanisms of the microbiome’s influence on cancer progression includes direct DNA breakage from bacterial toxins, modulation of the host's cellular survival mechanisms, generation of oxidative stress, and promotion of inflammation and immune dysregulation. The objective of this study is to determine whether or not canine
patients diagnosed with osteosarcoma have intestinal dysbiosis and if the
presence of intestinal dysbiosis is associated with metastasis in these
patients.
Due to their similar biological behavior, yet higher incidence
rate and shorter lifespan, dogs are an excellent model for spontaneous
osteosarcoma in the human. Understanding the role that dysbiosis plays in tumor presentation and metastasis in
dogs may give us insight into its association in humans with osteosarcoma. To
date, no studies have been published investigating the intestinal microbiota in
dogs or humans with osteosarcoma.
- Secondary Location(s)
Veterinary Specialty Hospital - North County
San Marcos, California
Veterinary Specialty Hospital - Sorrento Valley
San Diego, California
Peak Veterinary Referral Center
Williston, Vermont
Wisconsin Veterinary Referral Hospital
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital
Wheat Ridge, Colorado
- Study Type
- Intervention
none - sample collection only
- Inclusion Criteria
- Any dogs with a confirmed osteosarcoma, with or without metastasis. Patients with a
suspected osteosarcoma based on x-ray appearance are also
eligible for enrollment, although they will be removed from the study if a biopsy is later found to be not consistent
with osteosarcoma. Metastatic
disease does not need to be confirmed with a biopsy, but
must be strongly suspected based on imaging.
- Exclusion Criteria
- Dogs who have
received oral antibiotics within 4 weeks prior to collection of
fecal samples.
- Dogs with
gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea) within 4 weeks of sample
collection.
- Dogs with a
history of gastrointestinal disease (inflammatory bowel disease, protein losing
enteropathy, lymphangiectasia, etc.) that was diagnosed via histopathology.
- Dogs with a
chronic recurrent history of gastrointestinal symptoms within the previous
year.
- Potential Medical Benefits to Enrolled Animals
Patients enrolled in the study will receive extensive screening diagnostics performed. There are no therapeutic interventions in this study.
- Potential Medical Risks to Enrolled Animals
As there are no therapeutic interventions in this study, there is a low level of risk for complications.
- Financial Incentives for Study Participants
Fully funded including initial screening
- Study Results