Patient Disease:

Canine Osteosarcoma

Study Name:

Dual Energy CT to Assess Bone Mineral Density in Dogs with Osteosarcoma Undergoing Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy

Purpose of the study:

  • To measure bone breakdown markers before and after stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to determine how these are correlated with bone mineral density, response to treatment, and risk of fracture in dogs with osteosarcoma 

Primary Eligibility Criteria:

  • Dogs with a confirmed diagnosis of osteosarcoma of the leg that will be undergoing treatment with SBRT followed by carboplatin chemotherapy  
  • Owners intend to pursue carboplatin chemotherapy following radiation 
  • No evidence of pathologic fracture of leg or cancer spread 
  • 30-day washout from bisphosphonate or chemotherapy treatment; no prior radiation treatment to tumor 
  • Pets must come to CSU for all visits related to the clinical trial  

Study Protocol:

  • Dogs will undergo a dual energy CT for treatment planning for SBRT followed by 3 treatments with SBRT 
  • The first dose of carboplatin chemotherapy will be given at the time of the final SBRT treatment with 5 subsequent doses given every 3 weeks 
  • Blood and urine samples will be collected for assessment of bone resorption markers pre-treatment, 2 weeks after the 1st carboplatin treatment, and at every other carboplatin treatment 
  • A recheck dual energy CT will be performed at the time of the final carboplatin treatment 
  • Following chemotherapy, dogs will return every 8 weeks for chest x-rays; blood and urine will be collected for study purposes at the 1st 3 visits 

Owner Responsibilities:

  • To make and keep all appointments associated with treatment 
  • Costs of initial exam fee and tests to diagnose tumor 
  • Owners are responsible for the costs of the pre-treatment DECT and all costs related to SBRT treatment (other than incentive provided by study) and carboplatin chemotherapy including periodic chest x-rays, and costs related to any side effects of radiation or chemotherapy treatment 

Financial Incentives:

  • Study will cover all costs related to the recheck dual energy CT and anesthetic recovery, all blood and urine collections for study purposes, and testing of bone breakdown markers 
  • Study will provide $1500 towards the cost of SBRT, which is provided at a reduced cost 
  • Funds are available to pay for screening tests to determine eligibility, including blood tests, imaging of the chest, and tumor sampling 

If you have further questions about any of our clinical trials, please submit an online consult form. Your consult will then be directed to our trials team. Requests are typically returned within 5 business days.