The University of Minnesota is fighting an aggressive form
of brain cancer in dogs with the treatment.
They were the first in the country to try as if that's not impressive enough.
They're also looking at how it could help humans.
Sammy Selina has more on the procedure and a
very personal look at the promise it holds.
Let's go. Come on,
man's best friend. Oh, you think
is the simplest way
to
describe how Davis Hah.
You want,
you want Minnie or Mickey feels about his service dogs.
They make my worst day,
sometimes my best.
He says they've saved him in many ways, my best friend, but his previous pup
needed the saving. He had two weeks to live and I was devastated.
His beloved booster had cancer. I sent my dog's MRI out to 10 different centers.
I got a call one day from an angel,
a doctor Elizabeth Pluhar.
Let's see if we've got today's case.
Doctor Elizabeth Pluhar
was able to use boosters tumor to create a vaccine
that's
and combined with radiation and surgery.
He was able to stay cancer free for a very long time.
He's just one of the hundreds of dogs who have contributed and
benefited from the University of Minnesota's Brain Tumor Clinical Trial program.
I feel really good about that resection Dr
Pluhar
is the director for the program and one of the founders 15 years,
the goal is the work they do on brain tumors in dogs. I
think that's
opened up.
We translate to humans.
We have been trying to develop therapies to do in
conjunction with surgery to extend the life of the dog
with good quality of life as well.
Her team has been studying how a combination
of immunotherapy and surgery impacts the cancer.
A glioma is a type of brain tumor. And if it is a high grade glioma in dogs,
the dogs live on average two months.
We're pushing,
we're starting to push to get longer times in the hot
dogs with high grade glioma and while it's no cure,
this is Bruce
has helped more dog days become a reality who has continued to
bring so much joy to our lives. Jessica Sidik
says her French bulldog started to have seizures right here.
We can start to see the tumor.
The U is honing in on Frenchies since this
particular breed responds differently to immunotherapies so far.
If everything looks really good, they shared with me that the tumor is gone.
And uh, Bruce at this point looks that he's responded very well. This success in pets
could help treat their owners.
Dogs are humans best friends. They've been evolving with us for thousands of years.
Doctor Elizabeth Neil works on the human side of the U brain tumor program.
And in 2019,
a human trial began,
Dustin used to play a game where he'd jump from these tiles
from one to the next kind of like lava like a kid.
You know, he had been,
he always thought that was really funny,
supported her husband Dustin through the trial
being here at Centennial Lakes is special.
This is where the two would walk.
When Dustin and eight other patients diagnosed with glioblastoma,
brain cancer were enrolled, the medication itself didn't have any side effects.
And then secondly, it provided a lot of hope,
but unfortunately, the medication didn't work long term and Dustin passed away.
None of the patients who are enrolled in the study are currently alive.
And so while it was a win in the fact
that we were safely able to introduce this new treatment,
you know,
we still have a long ways to go to understand how we can make it more effective.
They have accomplished something.
Nothing in short,
I would consider of a miracle months after we talked with Jessica Bruce also died.
It it, it brings you to tears. Um I've been very open and honest
with, with the entire team and just continue to thank them both Jessica.
Nobody wants to be in this position
and clear,
have lost friends and loved ones close to them.
I think it is really important that people continue to participate in the trial.
That's why they say they would want other families to trust this program.
He left a legacy contributing to science and hopefully a cure for this disease.
Some day
you ready?
Because they believe one day they make life worth living man's best friend.
Oh, amazing will save the man.
Sammy
Solina Carol E
news.
Well, Doctor Elizabeth Pluhar
says dogs with less serious brain tumors have been benefiting from the therapies.
The U has developed with some living their lives without any tumor reoccurrence.
Her colleague, Doctor Neil hopes to one day start up another human study.