Dog With Cancer ‘Almost Back to Normal’ After Pioneering New Treatment

LEAH Labs, sometimes referred to as LifEngine Animal Health Laboratories, has secured over $1.5 million in SBIR funding since 2022. They were awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Phase I in 2020, a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Phase I in 2022 and a NSF Phase II in 2023.  

Newsweek – Published Jan 30, 2025 at 7:12 PM EST | Updated Jan 31, 2025 at 12:47 PM EST

Innovative research for a dog cancer treatment from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine has shown early success during the beginning trials, with one dog “almost back to normal.”

Jeffrey Bryan, a professor and researcher in the College of Veterinary Medicine, works as a clinical trial partner with LEAH Laboratories. The goal of the research is to help develop a therapy treatment for lymphoma in dogs while monitoring with live imaging how it moves through the body.

Lymphoma, a common cancer present in both humans and dogs, affects the lymph nodes and lymphatic system. There are more than 30 known types of lymphoma in dogs, the American Kennel Club says.

This trial, funded by the National Cancer Institute, uses chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells that are injected directly into the dog’s lymph nodes. These engineered cells had a series of genes added, turning them into “professional killers.” The CAR T cells are specifically trained to target cancer cells and attack.