\Purdue University
Veterinarv Medical
UPDATE
Purdue Veterinary Scientists at
Forefront in Fight Against Cancer
Purdue Comparative
Oncology Program
Takes Aim at Tumors
J he Purdue Comparative Oncology
Program (PCOP) is conducting several studies aimed at advancing the
understanding and treatment of cancer
in all species. Researchers identify types
of spontaneous animal tumors that serve
as good models of cancer in humans and
then design studies that will benefit both
pets and humans. Dr. Deborah Knapp,
assistant professor of comparative
oncology and chief of clinical oncology,
says the program is unique in its ability
to provide for the transfer of knowledge
from the basic research laboratory to
applications in the comparative clinical
setting, and then, ultimately, to human
clinical studies.
In the process of pursuing new
knowledge about cancer, oncology clinicians provide expert care to more than
1000 pets at the Veterinary Teaching
Hospital each year. They also provide
consultation about the treatment of
many other pets with cancer. Additionally the program contributes to oncology
education for veterinary students,
post graduate DVM's, and veterinary
technicians.
Clinical Studies Target
Several Forms of Cancer
Canine Transitional Cell Carcinoma
Clinical trials conducted by   PCOP
researchers have yielded improved suc-
The Purdue Comparative Oncology Program provides cancer care to more than 1,000 patients annually.
Oncology team members (L-R) Debbie Knapp, Ruthanne Chun, Linda Fineman, Amalia Degortari, Sue
Downing, Patty Bonney, and Karen Coflman share the limelight with one of their favorite patients, Bandit.
cess rates in the treatment of bladder
cancer (transitional cell carcinoma, or
TCC). Bladder cancer is a difficult form
of cancer to treat in dogs because it is
often not amenable to surgical removal
at the time of diagnosis. In many patients, it can result in metastasis (the
process by which tumor cells leave
their primary site and spread to lymph
nodes, lungs and other organs) and
obstruction of the ureters and urethra.
Dr. Knapp says canine TCC may
serve as a model of the invasive form
of bladder cancer in humans. In the
PCOP clinical studies, medical therapy
has resulted in an improved median
survival of six months and improved
one-year survival rate of 20 percent
for dogs with nonresectable TCC.
While these findings represent greater
See Oncology on page 3
In This Issue
Fallon's Song
success in the cancer fight 4
Veterinary Scientists Research
Liver Cancer, Gene Therapy 5,8
Cancer: The Human Toll  9
SVM Library Legacy.  12
New dog symposium planned  15
Disaster Planning for Animals 15
Veterinary Management Success  17
Student Honor Roll 20
Class of 1994 22