Low Dose Chemotherapy and Cancer
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Updated: October 2nd, 2019
Over the last few years, there has been much work in attempting to improve canine cancer treatment.
One strategy has been to use lower, continuous doses of oral chemotherapy drugs. The goal in this is to lessen chemotherapy toxicity, reduce trips to the oncologist for IV injections (the medications are pills), and hopefully gaining life span and life quality gains.
This is approach is called metronomic chemotherapy. Here, lower doses of drugs such as cyclophosphamide and piroxicam have been used with some success. Initial trials show promise with cancers such as hemangiosarcoma and soft tissue sarcomas.
One of the ways this treatment works is by acting on an enzyme found in higher levels in some cancers, called COX-2. This enzyme is “turned on” during inflammation. When this enzyme is activated, cancerous cells are able to suppress the immune system and create new blood vessels to feed tumors (angiogenesis).
Many think of metronomic chemotherapy as an attack against angiogenesis.
Perhaps most importantly however, when COX-2 is active, cancer cells are able to avoid apoptosis. Apoptosis is a naturally occurring process which is coded for in normal body cell genes. When these cells become pre-cancerous, damaged, old or infected, the apoptosis genes create what is called “cell suicide”. Apoptosis is the name for this genetically programmed cell suicide directed towards clearing out unwanted cells.
Cox-2 has been found in a variety of dog cancers, such as transitional cell carcinoma, some mammary carcinomas, prostate carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and carcinomas of the nasal and intestinal lining.
One of the common metronomic chemotherapy drugs is piroxicam. This drug is able to help block the effects of the COX-2 enzyme.
There are plant-derived substances that are capable of having similar effects on COX-2. These include luteolin, apigenin, and curcumin (among others). It was for this reason that these constituents were included in the Apocaps formulation.
Metronomic chemotherapy, and the use of substances that fight COX-2, are still in their early stages, and has not yet had large scale studies completed to assess its effectiveness on a wide variety of cancers. However, oncologists are using these promising strategies today for canine cancers.
Best,
Dr D
One of th
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Have Apoptogens been used in dogs with lymphoma of the brain?
Dear Ellie,
I might consider artemisinin (has some anti lympho effects) for this one, and possible neoplasene, K-9 immunity (not plus), along with the conventional care options. Remember to use your vet’s supervision…
D
So I spoke too soon. Rocco stopped eating again and couldn’t urinate for days. We had to take him to the emergency room at the animal hospital and they discovered that his right kidney has failed and his cancer has spread to his lymph nodes.
With the grim prognosis of his prostate cancer, we felt that going through surgery to apply a stint in him would just be too much. We have decided that this is enough and today we will be relieving him of his pain. Thanks for your help.
I give hope to all of those out there suffering with a dog with cancer.
-Renee
Dear Renee,
my thoughts go out to you and yours during this time of Rocco’s departure. I hope that the feelings of sadness soon turn to your happy times together. Might also contemplate the indestructible soul of our animal friends (depending on your personal beliefs and philosophies…)
All my best
D
Thanks for responding. Well after a very rough week, Rocco finally got his appetite back. He didn’t eat for about 5 days! We took him back to the vet and he discovered that his BUM level was over 100!!! Not good… and he said he almost had kidney failure. I hope his kidneys will recuperate. He has begun eating again and he is going to the bathroom again. We had to take him off the Piroxicam for a week and hopefully by next week we can gradually put him back on and start up the Apocaps.
Thank you so much.
-Renee
After having 3 Sharpei with cancer……2 passed away and 1 in remission, it is so heartbreaking!!! I hope you don’t mind if i crosspost this info onto the Sharpei forum that i belong to.
No problem, Shell
Best
D
Dr. Dressler,
Please help me. I really need an answer. Rocco is not doing too well right now. A few days after we switched him to the natural food diet and gave him all the antioxidants, he has stopped eating. He has no interest in eating. What does this mean? Our doctor is now telling us to give him the Piroxicam only every other day and to hold back on the natural supplements until he gets his appetite back. Do you think he will get his appetite back?
Please answer. I need all the help I can get.
Thank you,
Renee
Dear Renee,
This is sounds very hard for both you and Rocco. I am sorry. Some dogs have senstive tummies and require a very slow introduction of anything new. The piroxicam might be the culprit, as well as the supplements. I hope he is being given some things for his tummy (antacids, maybe a little ginger, carafate, reglan, possibly cytotec, etc), slippery elm.. all are possible.
Keep us posted
D
I recently heard world-renowned veterinary oncologist Greg Ogilvie speak at the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Assoc. Conference. Greg is also my dog Jiggy’s oncologist. To treat Jiggy’s liver cancer, he suggested metronomic chemo, a specialized diet and the Omega-3 fatty acid DHA, made from algae.
I elected to have Jiggy’s liver tumor surgically removed, but decided to forgo the chemo. I revised Jiggy’s diet (with the help of my holistic vet and Dr. Dressler’s e-book). Jiggy already ate fresh organic food, no grains, but I made a few omissions and additions. My whole family now takes DHA (on Greg’s suggestion) and Jiggy has a homeopathic regimen as well. I’ll be writing more about the DHA at my holistic canine health blog http://www.truth4dogs.com. Greg devoted three sessions at the Conference to DHA. It’s that important.
Dear Jan,
yes, DHA is one of the important omega 3s that has recently become popular due to recognition of the science behind its effects. I wish more of the science around nutraceuticals had spread throughout conventional medicine’s awareness. Greg has always been open to honest assessments, thank goodness.
Best
D
Jana: Recently, one of my neighbor’s dogs was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. Because her husband was out of town, I went to the vet appointment with her. Though I was wholly unimpressed with the vet (pain management wasn’t even addressed until, at the end of the appt., when I pushed it), she did say that there were some preliminary reports that NSAIDs could help in the fight against osteosarcoma.
Dear Kim
there is a lot more than can be done for this cancer. I assume this dog is getting complete cancer care? Surgery/chemo/radiation considerations? Diet? Apoptogens? Immune support? Antimetastatics? Brain chemistry modification? Other pain control steps (meds, pamidronate, palliative radiaion, acupuncture?) There is a lot that can be done. Complete info in the Guide.
Best
D
My wife and I have been using a process called Neurofacial Process to help our golden retriever with her cancer (tumors in her spleen, liver and kidneys), along with some holistic medications. The process involves connecting specific points on the body by touching to facilitate the release of toxins.
Cox-2? Wow, this might sound crazy, wouldn’t that mean that NSAIDs would actually fight cancer? (I hate to say that because I hate NSAIDs, but isn’t that the logical conclusion?)
Dr. Dressler,
My dog, a Coton de Tulear, is 10 and he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He is having major problems with his urination (has to urinate a lot and is straining) yet everything else is fine. Our doctor said chemotherapy would not be a good option for this type of cancer. Instead, he is on Piroxicam. We have also switched him over to a grain-free, all natural diet and he takes antibiotics, mushrooms, Cat’s Claw, and Apocaps everyday.
Will his urination problems ever be alleviated? Are we taking the right steps in his treatment?
Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!!!
Thanks,
Renee