WSU College of Veterinary Medicine gives a cancer drug Quadramet to a dog
for the first time in the state
October 22, 2009
August 6, 2009
CONTACT: Charlie Powell, (509) 335-7073,
cpowell@vetmed.wsu.edu
PULLMAN, Wash.—Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine is
administering a first-of-its-kind cancer treatment today to an 8 year-old,
golden retriever named “Cassie."
The drug is the first of its type to be administered to a dog in Washington and
arrived in a shielded, express shipment this morning from a nuclear reactor
facility at the University of Missouri. A radiopharmaceutical (pronounced RAY-dee-oh-FAR-ma-sue-tickle),
the drug is designed to travel in the blood stream, in this case to a bony
tumor, attach itself chemically, and by emitting its radiation as it decays,
slow or destroy the abnormal tissues.
Attending to Cassie is Dr. Jeffrey Bryan, a board-certified veterinary internal
medicine specialist whose expertise is in cancer care and treatment including
the therapeutic use of radiation. Cassie is owned by Dave and Eddie Lee Scott
of Anacortes, Wash.
“Cassie is a great dog owned by a fantastic couple," said Dr. Bryan. “Our hope
here is that we can provide palliative care and maintain her quality of life."
Beginning about a year ago when the tumor was first discovered at the base of
her skull, Cassie has undergone seven hours of surgery, a course of radiation
therapy that included 20 sessions, and now she is receiving a state-of-the-art
cancer drug.
The drug is known by the generic name Samarium-153-EDTMP or by the brand name of
Quadramet. It works by attaching itself to areas where bone is rapidly
growing. Because a radioactive element is attached to the drug, when the drug
binds to the bony tumor, the nuclear energy is localized where it is needed.
The procedure is quite simple. An IV catheter is placed in Cassie’s foreleg
just like when a human gets an IV. The drug is then administered rapidly into
the dog’s bloodstream. The same drug has been used to treat some forms of
cancer in humans and dogs over the last decade. Cassie is the first dog to be
treated in Washington.
Following administration, Cassie will be held in a sealed kennel run for 5 to 7
days until the radioactive material has decayed to a safe level for her to be
released. Articles in the run that may be contaminated with any residual
isotope that leaves her body in her urine stream are simply held for a period of
three weeks until the decay has progressed for 10 half-lives or down to the safe
background level.
