We request your assistance in identifying potential candidates for this study. No effective treatment for canine prostatic carcinoma is currently available. Surgery is technically difficult and usually results in incontinence. Radiation therapy is considered palliative. Hormonal therapy and chemotherapy provide little to no benefit.
Photodynamic therapy combines a photosensitizing agent and light to kill cells.
Clinical efficacy has been demonstrated in a variety of both veterinary and human cancers. Our study will use a second generation photosensitizer, Lutex, and light delivered directly into the prostate gland during a laparotomy. We have used this technique in a series of dogs with benign prostatic hypertrophy and one dog with prostatic neoplasia with minimal side effects and encouraging results. If you identify a patient with prostatic carcinoma, negative chest radiographs and no evidence of bone metastasis on abdominal radiographs, we will provide the additional screening at no cost to the owner. Although our funding does not cover the screening biopsy for these dogs, we will be glad to perform such studies then enter appropriate patients into our trial.