Developing a non-invasive treatment for canine thyroid tumors

Purpose

To evaluate histotripsy, a new, non-invasive way of treating canine thyroid tumors that can precisely target and destroy abnormal tissues without surgery or radiation.

Background

Up to 90% of thyroid tumors in dogs are cancerous, and the main treatment right now is  surgery.  The thyroid sits next to critical blood vessels and breathing tubes, creating potential complications for surgery. Furthermore, many tumors cannot be operated on at all because they are stuck to these vital structures.  Histotripsy is an innovative method using focused sound waves—not heat, surgery, or radiation—to safely destroy tumor cells with millimeter accuracy. Prior studies using this technology for canine bone cancer were safe and successful.  Histotripsy has the potential to be the first truly tissue-selective ablation method capable of sparing nerves, vessels, and other critical structures for thyroid tumor ablation 

Eligibility

• Dogs diagnosed with a thyroid tumor whose families have elected for surgical removal
• Dogs stable enough for general anesthesia

Exclusion

• Presence of other life-threatening diseases
• Non-resectable thyroid tumors

Study Design

Patients that are being seen as surgical candidates for thyroid tumors will undergo standard of care workup including bloodwork and CT scan.  Once deemed eligible, patients will undergo an MRI to plan for Histotripsy treatment.  A single histotripsy treatment day will occur on a separate day followed by surgical resection of the tumor one day after that.

Compensation

**There is a possibility for financial assistance beyond the $2,000 through a Compassionate Care Fund for cancer patients available at the Animal Cancer Care and Research Center.  Care Credit is also accepted at both the Blacksburg and Roanoke facility.

Funded by