CSU Animal Cancer Center

Happy Clinical Trials Tuesday! Our clinical trial using CAR T cells to treat bone cancer that has spread to the lungs is still recruiting patients. CAR T cells are a form of immunotherapy that is used in people for a variety of cancer types, and we are just starting to learn about their effectiveness in pets with cancer. More information about this study is available here: https://www.csuanimalcancercenter.org/clinical-trial/car-t-cell-immunotherapy-for-treatment-of-metastatic-osteosarcoma-in-dogs/

CAR T cell Immunotherapy for Treatment of Metastatic Osteosarcoma in Dogs - Flint Animal Cancer Center Patient Disease: Canine Osteosarcoma with Metastasis to the Lungs Study Name: CAR T cell Immunotherapy for Treatment of Metastatic Osteosarcoma in Dogs Purpose of the study: Primary Eligibility Criteria: Study Protocol: Owner Responsibilities: Financial Incentives: If you have further questions abou...

Understanding Cancer's Behavior 🔬 🐾

Meet Dr. Jacob Cawley, a veterinary medical oncologist at the Flint Animal Cancer Center studying hemangiosarcoma, an aggressive cancer in dogs.

His research explores how cancer cells adapt, resist treatment, and spread – revealing vulnerabilities that could lead to new therapies.

By advancing our understanding of cancer in dogs, Dr. Cawley's work is helping drive discoveries that could improve treatment for both canine and human patients through comparative oncology. 💙🐾

2026 Oncology Award in Memory of Lois Marie Adlfinger Winner: Dr. Dayoung Oh 👏

This award recognizes an outstanding oncology specialty trainee with a clear dedication, compassion, and commitment to advancing cancer care. We are proud to recognize Dr. Oh for her hard work, excellence, and promise as a future leader in veterinary oncology.

We are deeply grateful to the family and friends of Lois Marie Adlfinger for making this award possible and for investing in the next generation of veterinary oncologists.

Way to go, Dr. Oh!

Happy Clinical Trials Tuesday! We are very excited to introduce you to our newest team member, Dr. Mariela Aponte Hernandez! She will be with us for the next year as our clinical trials intern. She is originally from Puerto Rico and recently completed a small animal medicine and surgery internship at a clinic in Portland, ME. We are so happy to have her on our team!

Happy Every After ❤️

Thanks to generous donors like you, Happy and his family received a grant to help cover the cost of his care. His people wrote –

“We can’t tell you just how much the grant we received means to us! Thank you so much!

“Happy is our five-year-old Cocker Spaniel, and Happy is just that – he is a happy boy! He’s a bit of a clown who never fails to make us smile. He’s a funny little dog.

“When we were told that the growth removed from his face was malignant, we were stunned. Of course, there is never a good time to get news like this, but Happy’s diagnosis, testing, surgery, and chemo all came when I needed to have surgery myself. The financial impact hit us at the worst time. I cried happy tears when I got the news that we received this grant for Happy.

“So far, Happy has tolerated the surgery and chemo like a champ! We just love everybody at CSU and feel so fortunate to have you in our backyard. The truly excellent treatment and kindness shown by everyone have made going through something like this so much easier. We have every confidence that Happy is receiving the gold standard of care and that he is going to be okay.

“We thank you again for the remarkable gift! Your generosity will never be forgotten.”

You can help write more happy endings. Give to patient assistance grants, today: https://www.csuanimalcancercenter.org/give-to-patient-assistance/

Operating on Hope! 🏥 🐾

Dr. Deanna Worley, a surgical oncologist, is passionate about treating cancer early through surgery. She has spent her career finding ways to make surgery more effective for pets, while also reducing trauma.

Osteosarcoma is a common and often painful disease in dogs. Worley’s current research project involves a new treatment combination with a goal of improving outcomes and quality of life. The expedited chemotherapy clinical trial is designed to answer whether starting chemotherapy directly after an amputation for osteosarcoma – instead of the standard two-week waiting time – will improve canine survival rates without compromising healing.

The study is well underway, with patients enrolling at three sites, including the FACC.

To date, there have been no increased adverse effects reported. This work underscores the fact that our researchers are always striving for better treatment modalities for all species.

🔬 Turning Data Into Discovery

Meet Dr. Sunetra Das, a research scientist and bioinformatician at the Flint Animal Cancer Center who transforms complex genetic, molecular, and clinical data into insights that advance cancer research.

By analyzing gene expression, identifying mutations, and supporting clinical trials, she helps uncover new treatment strategies for cancers affecting pets while informing human cancer research.

Through collaboration, innovation, and the power of AI, Dr. Das is turning data into discoveries that improve the future of cancer care for pets and people alike. 💙🐾

Bubbles Battled Cancer – Thanks to You! ❤️

Bubbles and his family recently sought care at the FACC. With help from a patient assistance grant, the family got more time together. Bubbles' owner wrote –

"We are so lucky to have been offered financial assistance for Bubbles’ cancer care. It is amazing to be told there is still something you can do when you think you have run out of options. The funds Bubbles received did this for us.
"Having been able to give him all the best means the world to us. We are so grateful for your donations and the extra time we got with our boy. Those are the minutes, hours, and days that life is all about.
"Thank you so much for your generosity and kindness. We will forever look for ways to pay it forward."

Thank you for making memories like this possible!

Happy Clinical Trials Tuesday! We are hoping to enroll some more dogs into a study we have that is testing whether the immune responses generated through routine vaccination against common viruses can be re-directed toward cancer cells. This study has the potential to provide exciting new options for cancer treatment in both pets and humans. You can read more about it here: https://www.csuanimalcancercenter.org/cotc033-repurposing-vaccine-immunity-to-treat-cancers-validation-in-canine-patients/

COTC033: Repurposing Vaccine Immunity to Treat Cancers: Validation in Canine Patients - Flint Animal Cancer Center Patient Disease: Canine Neoplasia (Multiple Types) Study Name: COTC033: Repurposing Vaccine Immunity to Treat Cancers: Validation in Canine Patients  Purpose of the study: Primary Eligibility Criteria: Study Protocol: Owner Responsibilities: Financial Incentives: If you have further questions about...

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Samantha Beeson and Dr. Mercer Butts, recipients of the 2026 Ringen Family Award, given in honor of Dr. Kimberly Statham Ringen, DVM, DACVIM.

This award recognizes exceptional veterinary trainees who demonstrate a passion for oncology, a commitment to compassionate patient care, and the potential to make a lasting impact in the field. We are proud to celebrate Drs. Beeson and Butts for their dedication, hard work, and commitment to advancing cancer care for animals.

We are also deeply grateful to the Ringen family for investing in the future of veterinary oncology through this meaningful award. Their generosity helps support and inspire the next generation of leaders in cancer care.

Congratulations to both recipients on this well-deserved honor! 👏🐾💙