Our dogs are the most faithful companions we know (unless we are lucky in love). They unfailingly dedicate themselves to us, and deserve the same in return. Sometimes events happen to our four-legged friends that’s out of our control. Thankfully, with today’s modern technology, we are working towards finding answer to the physical afflictions once deemed unsolvable. It’s been estimated that 1.2 new canine cancer cases are reported in the U.S. every year, making cancer a leading cause of death in dogs. For many years, the number one cause of canine death, cutaneous mast cell tumors, have been treated with steroids, antihistamines, and several human oncology drugs. Now, a specific drug has been developed and approved in hopes of putting an end to the struggle dogs and their owners that love them face.
Pfizer Animal Health, a unit of Pfizer Inc., has recently stated that the FDA has approved Palladia, the first canine cancer therapy in the United States. Pfizer intends to make the product available for purchase in early 2010. Palladia will treat Patnaik grade II or III (where grade III is the most severe level) recurrent cutaneous mast cell tumors with or without regional lymph node involvement. Mast cells, which are produced in the bone marrow and found in the connective tissues, release histamine to protect dogs against inflammation, parasites, allergens, or trauma. When overly stimulated, the chemicals they release, including serotonin and prostaglandins, can cause damage to the immune system, as well as often become malignant tumors.
Mast cell tumors commonly grow in the skin of dogs, but can be found anywhere in the body. The appearance of these tumors can be greatly varied, so a biopsy should take place for appropriate diagnosis. After a clinical study by Pfizer, it has been determined that 60 percent of the subject dogs’ tumors had been seen to “disappear, shrink, or stop growing.” According to the National Canine Cancer Foundation, one in three dogs are affected by cancer, and more than half will die. This sad statistic is far too high. Hopefully, with the introduction of new drugs like Palladia, and the support of organizations such as the Canine Cancer Awareness and National Canine Cancer Foundation, the resources and research will be provided for cancer research “to develop innovative approaches to a cure, treatment, diagnosis or prevention of cancer in dogs.
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