A 10-year-old beagle with prostate cancer is helping researchers at the University of Queensland use nanomedicines to accurately diagnose and target the disease. Hoover is the first “patient” in the world to receive the nanomedicine, which the research team hopes will help track and treat his cancer, and lead to better treatment for people with the same disease. Hoover was chosen for the trial because dogs – like humans – naturally develop prostate cancer. “Nanomedicines with the ability to target specific areas can lead us to target chemotherapy drugs to where they’re needed, and kill cancerous cells with minimal impact on healthy cells,” said Associate Professor Kris Thurecht. Pre-clinical studies have been successful in treating prostate cancer in the laboratory, leading to total remission in some cases. “Validation of this science and technology in companion animals like Hoover is an exciting step forward in nanomedicine and towards human treatment,” he said.
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.