Studying a Novel Anti-Cancer Drug for Histiocytic Sarcoma

Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) is a highly aggressive cancer in dogs with a poor prognosis. The cancer tends to develop in the spleen, lungs, bone marrow, liver and lymph nodes. HS can occur in any dog but certain breeds, including Bernese mountain dogs, flat-coated retrievers, golden retrievers, Rottweilers and miniature schnauzers, are at higher risk of developing this cancer. Chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment but with limited success. Finding new treatment options is imperative.

Building on their earlier studies on the mechanism of this cancer and on drug response to cancer cells, researchers are conducting a clinical trial in dogs with HS to find out if the drug trametinib can improve outcomes for these patients. Response to treatment will be evaluated based on changes in tumor size over time. The team also will look for genetic mutations that could be used as predictors of drug response that may guide individualized treatment choices for dogs. If successful, findings will determine if trametinib might work as a novel targeted therapy for HS, adding a much needed treatment option to improve outcomes for dogs with this challenging cancer.