The effect of Traumeel LT ad us. vet. on the perioperative inflammatory response after castration of stallions: a prospective, randomized, double-blinded study.

Introduction: Stallion castration is a standard procedure with a risk of post-surgical complications. Castration induces an acute phase response (APR). Serum Amyloid-A (SAA) is a well-studied major acute phase protein (APP), that has been shown to be a good marker for the development of post-surgical complications.

7Hsp70 serum levels in pet dogs-a potential diagnostic biomarker for spontaneous round cell tumors.

The concentration of circulating heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) was measured in liquid biopsies of canine tumor patients as a potential biomarker. Compared with rodent tumor models, spontaneously occurring tumors in pet dogs reflect the clinical situation of human patients better, as dogs cohabitate with their owners in the same environment, reach a much older age than rodents, can provide blood samples much more frequently, and receive up-to-date medical care and, similar to humans, their tumors show a high genetic heterogeneity. Due to the species-specific sequence homology of human and canine Hsp70, two human enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) systems (R&D and lipHsp70) were used to measure canine Hsp70 concentrations in serum and plasma.

A pilot trial of doxorubicin containing phosphatidyldiglycerol based thermosensitive liposomes in spontaneous feline soft tissue sarcoma.

Purpose: Doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded phosphatidyldiglycerol-based thermosensitive liposomes (DPPG-TSL-DOX) combined with local hyperthermia (HT) was evaluated in cats with locally advanced spontaneous fibrosarcomas (soft tissue sarcoma [STS]). The study was designed to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetic profile of the drug. Results from four dose-levels are reported.

Comparative Oncology: Evaluation of 2-Deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) for the Staging of Dogs with Malignant Tumors.

Introduction: 2-Deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose PET/CT is a well-established imaging method for staging, restaging and therapy-control in human medicine. In veterinary medicine, this imaging method could prove to be an attractive and innovative alternative to conventional imaging in order to improve staging and restaging. The aim of this study was both to evaluate the effectiveness of this image-guided method in canine patients with spontaneously occurring cancer as well as to illustrate the dog as a well-suited animal model for comparative oncology.

Effect of low-fat diets on plasma levels of NF-κB-regulated inflammatory cytokines and angiogenic factors in men with prostate cancer.

Diet, nutritional status, and certain dietary supplements are postulated to influence the development and progression of prostate cancer. Angiogenesis and inflammation are central to tumor growth and progression, but the effect of diet on these processes remains uncertain. We explored changes in 50 plasma cytokines and angiogenic factors (CAF) in 145 men with prostate cancer enrolled in a preoperative, randomized controlled phase II trial with four arms: control (usual diet), low-fat (LF) diet, flaxseed-supplemented (FS) diet, and FS+LS diet.

Proton spot scanning radiotherapy of spontaneous canine tumors.

Thirty dogs with spontaneous tumors were irradiated with proton therapy using a novel spot scanning technique to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the system, and to study the acute and late radiation reactions. Nasal tumors, soft tissue sarcomas, and miscellaneous tumors of the head were treated with a median total dose of 52.5 Gy given in 3.

Targeting lactate-fueled respiration selectively kills hypoxic tumor cells in mice.

Tumors contain oxygenated and hypoxic regions, so the tumor cell population is heterogeneous. Hypoxic tumor cells primarily use glucose for glycolytic energy production and release lactic acid, creating a lactate gradient that mirrors the oxygen gradient in the tumor. By contrast, oxygenated tumor cells have been thought to primarily use glucose for oxidative energy production.

Estrogen-related receptor alpha is critical for the growth of estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer.

Expression of estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRalpha) has recently been shown to carry negative prognostic significance in breast and ovarian cancers. The specific role of this orphan nuclear receptor in tumor growth and progression, however, is yet to be fully understood. The significant homology between estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) and ERRalpha initially suggested that these receptors may have similar transcriptional targets.

Correlation of quantified contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasonography with immunofluorescent analysis of microvessel density in spontaneous canine tumours.

Conventionally, tumour vascularity is assessed invasively by immunofluorescent analysis. Quantified contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasound has been used to measure tumour angiogenesis non-invasively in humans and experimental animals. The purpose of this study was to correlate quantified contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasound with immunofluorescent results in 45 spontaneous canine tumours.

Photodynamic therapy of feline cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma using a newly developed liposomal photosensitizer: preliminary results concerning drug safety and efficacy.

Background: Squamous cell carcinomas are common skin tumors in cats. We investigated photodynamic therapy (PDT) using a new liposomal photosensitizer as a minimally invasive, effective treatment that can be easily performed while achieving good cosmetic results.

Aim: The goal of this study was to assess and describe possible toxicities using a liposomal formulation of the photosensitizer meta-(Tetrahydroxyphenyl)Chlorin (m-THPC) and investigate if favorable pharmacokinetics translate into favorable tumor response and control.

Simultaneous application of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor inhibitor PTK787/ZK 222584 and ionizing radiation does not further reduce the growth of canine oral melanoma xenografts in nude mice.

PTK787/ZK 222584 is an inhibitor of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor tyrosine kinases. In this study, the effectiveness of PTK787/ZK 222584 and radiation on canine oral melanoma xenografts was assessed. Xenografts were treated with radiotherapy (4x6Gy), or with PTK787/ZK 222584, or with a combination of both.

Interrelation of directly measured oxygenation levels, erythropoietin and erythropoietin receptor expression in spontaneous canine tumours.

The expression of the hypoxia-inducible protein erythropoietin in tumour cells correlates with levels of tumour hypoxia. Our aim was to look for an interrelation of directly measured oxygenation levels, the presence of tissue erythropoietin and its receptor. Data of tumour oxygenation status, plasma and tissue erythropoietin and its receptor in a group of spontaneously occurring tumours in 15 dogs were collected.

Influence of pretreatment polarographically measured oxygenation levels in spontaneous canine tumors treated with radiation therapy.

Background And Purpose: The level of hypoxia in primary tumors has been described to influence response to treatment. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of pretreatment oxygen level measurements in spontaneous canine tumors on treatment outcome.

Materials And Methods: Data of pretreatment tumor oxygenation status and local tumor response after primary radiation therapy in a group of spontaneously occurring tumors in dogs (n=52) was collected.

The influence of fractionated radiation therapy on plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration in dogs with spontaneous tumors and its impact on outcome.

Background And Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a specific pro-angiogenic factor is proposed to be involved in cancer progression and resistance to radiation therapy by promoting angiogenesis and by protecting endothelial cells from radiation induced apoptosis. The aim of this study, was first to assess the influence of ionizing radiation on plasma VEGF concentration in spontaneous canine tumors during fractionated radiation therapy with curative or palliative intent and second to analyze plasma VEGF concentration as predictor for treatment outcome.

Patients And Methods: For plasma VEGF analysis a human VEGF enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used.

Measurement of tumor hypoxia in spontaneous canine sarcomas.

We used positron emission tomography (PET) with [18F]fluoromisonidazole ([18F]FMISO) to study tumor hypoxia in six dogs with spontaneous sarcomas. The tumors were regarded as hypoxic if [18F]FMISO uptake exceeded normal tissue radioactivity by 40% (tumor/muscle ratio > 1.4) or if kinetic analysis indicated a positive [18F]FMISO tissue influx rate (Ki > 0) by a Patlak plot.

Evaluation of quantified contrast-enhanced color and power Doppler ultrasonography for the assessment of vascularity and perfusion of naturally occurring tumors in dogs.

Objective: To investigate subjective and computerized methods of evaluation of color Doppler (CD) and power Doppler (PD) ultrasonographic images (obtained before and after administration of contrast medium) for quantitative assessment of vascularity and perfusion of various naturally occurring tumors in dogs.

Sample Population: 34 tumors in 34 dogs.

Procedure: Tumors in dogs were examined via CD and PD ultrasonography before and after i.

Preliminary study of plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) during low- and high-dose radiation therapy of dogs with spontaneous tumors.

High plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentrations are associated with radiation resistance and poor prognosis. After an exposure to ionizing radiation in cell culture an early phase and a late phase of increased VEGF have been documented. The activation was dependent on the radiation dose.

Oxygenation of spontaneous canine tumors during fractionated radiation therapy.

Background And Purpose: Tumor oxygenation predicts treatment outcome, and reoxygenation is considered important in the efficacy of fractionated radiation therapy. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to document the changes of the oxygenation status in spontaneous canine tumors during fractionated radiation therapy using polarographic needle electrodes.

Material And Methods: Tumor oxygen partial pressure (pO(2)) measurements were performed with the Eppendorf-pO(2)-Histograph.

Plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) measured in seventy dogs with spontaneously occurring tumours.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) acts specifically on endothelial cells mediating tumour neovascularisation and initiating tumour growth and metastasis. In humans, high VEGF levels are correlated with poorer prognosis but in dogs minimal information on plasma VEGF is available. Therefore, we analysed plasma VEGF in a variety of spontaneous canine tumours.

Ultrasound guided, pre-radiation oxygen measurements using polarographic oxygen needle electrodes in spontaneous canine soft tissue sarcomas.

Background: Poor tumour oxygenation is associated with radiation resistance. The recording of pre-treatment oxygenation status has been shown to be of prognostic relevance.

Material And Methods: Eleven dogs with spontaneously arising soft tissue sarcomas were included in this study.

Rescue of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha-deficient tumor growth by wild-type cells is independent of vascular endothelial growth factor.

In tumors, rapid cell proliferation associated with deficient vascularization leads to areas of hypoxia. Tumor hypoxia has direct consequences on clinical and prognostic parameters and is a potential therapeutic target. The hypoxic response depends critically on hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) in pathological (e.