Stem Therapy - Bone Marrow Transplants
Dear Colleague,
RE: Stem cell therapy for lymphoma
We are pleased to announce that through collaboration with Engene Biotechnologies Inc. and Advanced Veterinary Services we will soon be offering autologous, peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) for the treatment of dogs with lymphoma. This exciting new treatment is expected to cure greater than 40% of our patients with this common malignancy. PBSCT is a myeloablative bone marrow transplantation that utilizes a minimally invasive procedure called apheresis to acquire peripheral blood stem cells. Following a standard chemotherapy protocol each dog will take up residence with us. Leukopheresis of stem cells from an intravenous catheter, total body radiation and intravenous re-infusion of the CD34+ stem cells will be performed. Although the leukopheresis, radiation and re-infusion of stem cells are short, minimally invasive procedures, it will take approximately 10-14 days for re-establishment of the immune system. During this time our patients will be catered to in strict isolation in a newly built spacious ward that comes equipped with a flat panel television and sound system for their enjoyment. In the future we plan to offer this state of the art treatment to patients with non-malignant diseases and to begin allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. If you have any patients that may benefit or have any questions regarding this new and exciting technology please feel free to contact us.
Sincerely,
Johnny D. Chretin, DVM, DACVIM(O)
VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital
