Show-Me State Times

Mary Winter from Jefferson City faced a difficult situation when her rescue dog, Sadie, was diagnosed with lymphoma last fall. Seeking the best care for her Border Collie mix, Winter turned to the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine.

There, she met with Jeffrey Bryan, a professor and researcher who informed her that Sadie qualified for a clinical trial of a new cancer treatment overseen by the National Cancer Institute. Eager to help both Sadie and other potential beneficiaries, Winter decided to participate in the study.

“We wanted to see if the new treatment could help not just Sadie, but other dogs, and even humans, too,” Winter said.

The innovative treatment employs chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. This involves injecting human CAR T-cells directly into a dog's lymph nodes instead of through the bloodstream. These cells are designed to target and destroy cancer cells.

“By collaborating with the MU Research Reactor, which produced a tracer that we used, we were able to track where the CAR T-cells were going in Sadie’s body by using our positron emission tomography (PET) scanner,” Bryan explained. “Mizzou is one of only a few universities in the country with this advanced technology, and Sadie is only the second dog ever to receive this new treatment successfully. It was very exciting to see the CAR T-cells attacking the cancer in her lymph nodes like they were supposed to.”

Following initial treatment, Sadie's lymph nodes reduced in swelling significantly. She continues on her path toward recovery.

“After the initial treatment, Sadie got a little bit better every day, and now she is almost back to normal,” Winter reported. “Not only did Sadie receive fantastic care at Mizzou; the veterinary staff there were also so attentive — walking us through what to expect and quick to communicate with us when they had updates so we were always in the loop.”

Bryan also serves as associate director of comparative oncology at MU Health Care’s Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. He emphasized that his research aims at benefiting both animals and humans.

“Sadie is part of an initial three-dog study, but our goal is to expand that,” Bryan stated. “Everything we learn can help inform and advance CAR T-cell therapy for humans with lymphoma, so it is a really exciting time to be innovating in this space. Mizzou has made some really big investments in the technology and facilities we need to carry these things out, so we will keep pushing forward.”