October 15, 2013
University of Missouri researchers are studying prostate cancer in both men and dogs. The goal of this project is to examine genetic markers to predict which patients will benefit from treatment. This study is an example the One Health/One Medicine initiative of Mizzou Advantage.
Story by: Marcus Wilkins
Dog might be man’s best friend, but he’s also his best medical model when it comes to prostate cancer. Like men, canines are one of the only mammals that naturally develop prostate cancer.
“We’re trying to sort out which genes are ‘disregulated’ that are similar in dog and man,” says Bryan, MS ’04, PhD ’07. He says the goal is to compare the findings and predict which patients will do well with treatment.
Meanwhile, fellow researcher Sandra Bechtel runs the clinical side of the study that treats the dogs using radioactive gold nanoparticles developed by Kattesh Katti, Curator’s Professor of Radiology and Physics.
“We’re injecting these particles directly into the dogs’ prostates,” Bechtel says. “We’re hoping the gold will be more effective with fewer side effects than traditional radiation therapy.”
The two-pronged study has treated 15 dogs from around the country, and the doctors aren’t picky about breeding, be it mutt or mastiff.
“Dobermans, shelties, beagles, German shorthairs, Norwegian elk hounds,” Bryan says. “While some breeds have a predisposition for these cancers, we are looking for broad themes, applicable to all breeds as well as to men.”