Trial ended August 2021.
Patient Disease:
Canine Oral Tumors (melanoma, fibrosarcoma, tonsillar or salivary carcinoma)
Study Name:
LNMRI for Detecting Metastatic Lymph Nodes
Purpose of the study:
- To determine if a novel, non-invasive imaging method utilizing iron nanoparticles is more sensitive than other types of imaging for diagnosing metastatic lymph nodes
Primary Eligibility Criteria:
- Dogs with a diagnosis of oral melanoma, oral fibrosarcoma, tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma, or salivary carcinoma; other oral tumor types may be eligible on a case-by-case basis
- Surgical removal of primary tumor okay if surgical site can be easily identified
- No prior chemotherapy or radiation to the head/neck region
- No prior removal of head/neck lymph nodes
- Pets must come to CSU for all visits related to the clinical trial
Study Protocol:
- Day 1: Dogs anesthetized for short MRI +/- CT scan; after recovery from anesthesia, iron nanoparticle drug is given as an IV infusion
- Day 3: Anesthesia for repeat MRI +/- CT scan (if not done on Day1) 48 hours following drug infusion followed by surgical removal of regional lymph nodes
Owner Responsibilities:
- You are responsible for the initial testing to determine study eligibility (sampling of the primary tumor, chest radiographs and bloodwork; approximately $400-700 depending on the tests performed) and any other tests recommended by your pet’s oncologist
- You are expected to make and keep all appointments associated with the study
Financial Incentives:
- All costs related to the study protocol including the costs of imaging, drug infusion, and lymph node removal are covered by the study
- Owners will receive a $250 credit to their VTH account upon completion of the study to put towards further treatment
- Should your pet have any significant allergic reactions during administration of the medication and require hospitalization, the trial will pay for treatments associated with this incident only
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.