RBVH Clinical Trial: Novel Angiogenesis Inhibitor
Angiogenesis is important in normal physiologic processes such as wound healing and pathologic states including cancer. Tumors disrupt the regulation of angiogenesis by producing angiogenic factors, inducing release of angiogenic factors from other nearby cells, and decreasing natural antiangiogenic factors.

At least 15-20 proteins are known to activate endothelial cell growth and movement, of which vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been shown to play an important role. In people VEGF is important in a wide variety of different malignant tumors and high VEGF blood levels are often tied to a poor prognosis for numerous tumor types. In people, specific anti-VEGF therapies have entered clinical cancer trials and have demonstrated promising results. Similarly, VEGF has been identified in the blood and tumors of dogs with cancers such as hemangiosarcoma, osteosarcoma, lymphoma, soft tissue sarcoma, melanoma, etc. Novel therapies have been designed to inhibit VEGF including the use of small molecules (called tyrosine kinase inhibitors-TKIs) that essentially shut down the VEGF from stimulating the blood vessels. This stops the process of tumor angiogenesis, leading to tumor regression.

Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, as a member of the Animal Clinical Investigation Network (www.animalci.com) will be accruing cases to determine efficacy and safety of a novel anti-VEGF small molecule inhibitor. The study is fully funded and pays the cost of all cancer staging, diagnostics, novel drug and any adverse events. The novel drug is administered orally and has been shown to be safe in dogs. All cancer types are eligible as long as the tumor can be measured and small serial biopsies taken during the course of therapy.

Inclusion Criteria

  • Informed owner consent prior to initiation of screening/treatment;
  • Histological or cytological diagnosis of cancer;
  • Measurable cancer that is able to be biopsied (1-2cm);
  • Prior treatment with chemotherapy, prednisone or nonsteroidal (NSAID) therapy is accepted but a washout is required (21 days for chemotherapy and 7 days for prednisone or NSAID therapy);
  • Prior treatment with radiation therapy is accepted but a 30-day washout is required.

for more information
Contact the Red Bank Veterinary Hospital Oncology Service at (732) 747-3636.

  • Craig A. Clifford DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology)-Trial Coordinator
  • Rogers M. Fred III, DVM
  • Siobhan Haney MS, VMD, DACVR (Radiation Oncology)
  • Joshua L. Lachowicz DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)
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