“We are absolutely delighted to receive this award from Animal Cancer Foundation to support our ongoing work developing genetically re-directed T-cells to provide complete and durable remission in dogs with B-cell lymphoma” – Dr. Nicola Mason
ACF’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the presentation of two comparative oncology grant awards for 2016 that were made possible by the generosity of our donors and benefactors.
The first award was presented to Nicola Mason, B.Vet.Med., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine and Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania and co-investigator Avery Posey, Ph.D., Instructor in Cellular Immunotherapy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, to build on their current work leading to the first clinical trial evaluating the safety and therapeutic effect of CD20 targeted CAR T cell therapy in client-owned dogs with relapsed B cell lymphoma. Non Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is the most common hematopoeitic cancer in dogs and the most common subtype is Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphomas. Veterinary oncologists are able to use combinations of cytotoxic agents to achieve clinical remission in about 75% of dogs; however,, 85 to 90% relapse with lethal, drug-resistant lymphoma with 6 to 9 months of treatment.
Dr. Mason explains that the ongoing work at Penn Vet seeks a cure for canine B-cell lymphoma by using immunotherapy, treatment currently also being used in people, “This award supports our ongoing work developing genetically re-directed T cells to provide complete and durable remission in dogs with B cell lymphoma and continues the strong collaboration between the Schools of Veterinary Medicine and Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.”
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