T-CHOP Naïve Canine Lymphoma Study at CSU

Update: T-CHOP Trial Still Running, Preliminary Results Released

Preliminary results of the T-CHOP trial were presented at the October 2022 Veterinary Cancer Society conference by Kaitlin Curran, the study’s primary investigator. Adding rabacfosadine (Tanovea) to the CHOP protocol has been effective, with 93% of the participating dogs responding to treatment. Outcomes appear comparable to a classic CHOP protocol based on this study.

The study remains closed for enrollment, but some of the original thirty enrolled participants are still being followed. Once the data has been fully collected and analyzed, a paper will be published. According to Dr. Kristen Weishaar of Colorado State University, the paper will likely be published sometime in 2023.

We will update this article as we learn more. In the meantime, you might also be interested in learning more about clinical trials in general.

What is the T-CHOP looking to discover?

The study of canine cancer and the development of new chemotherapy protocols is a constant endeavor in veterinary medicine. The CHOP protocol is currently the gold standard treatment option for lymphoma in dogs, but researchers and veterinarians are always looking for ways to improve treatment results further.¹

The T-CHOP Naïve Canine Lymphoma Study at Colorado State University is a study to examine whether adding another drug to the existing CHOP protocol will improve outcomes.

In 2021, rabacfosadine became the first FDA-approved treatment for lymphoma in dogs. Rabacfosadine (brand name Tanovea^®) preferentially targets lymphoid cells and inhibits DNA synthesis via inhibition of DNA polymerases.² By attacking lymphoid cells and prohibiting their reproduction, rabacfosadine aids in killing lymphoma tumor cells. Rabacfosadine is effective at killing tumor cells with minimal damage to healthy, normal cells.³

Testing the addition of Tanovea to the CHOP protocol is a logical next step to improve outcomes for dogs with lymphoma.

Selection Criteria for the T-CHOP Trial

The T-CHOP trial, which closed its enrollment of patients in April of 2022, has the following selection criteria:¹

• Dogs who have been recently diagnosed with multicentric lymphoma (lymphoma affecting multiple lymph nodes and sometimes the spleen, liver, or bone marrow)
• No prior treatment with chemotherapy, and a one-week washout if being treated with steroids
• Normal liver and kidney function and no underlying diseases
• No history of lung disease, including but not limited to pulmonary fibrosis (a possible side effect of Tanovea use)
• No West Highland White Terriers due to their genetic predisposition to developing pulmonary fibrosis
• Ability to come to CSU for all of the treatment and follow-up visits needed for the clinical trial

Treatment Protocol for the T-CHOP Study

The treatment protocol is:¹

• In the hospital patients receive four infusions of rabacfosadine, doxorubicin, and vincristine over the course of 18 weeks
• Cyclophosphamide and prednisone are given by mouth at home
• Weekly visits for bloodwork and/or chemo; bloodwork-only visits can be done with primary care veterinarian
• After chemo is completed, the dogs will need to come back for rechecks once a month, ideally with chest x-rays every other month

The owners are financially responsible for all medications and testing except for the rabacfosadine therapy.¹

Where the T-CHOP Study Is Conducted

This study is being performed at the Flint Animal Cancer Center at CSU-CVM.¹

How to Join the T-CHOP Trial

Enrollment was closed in April 2022.¹

We will update this article as the results are announced.