Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
University / teaching hospital
7 current cancer treatment or research opportunities
About Tufts veterinary oncology
Tufts' Harrington Oncology Service combines medical oncology, radiation therapy and cancer surgery at Foster Hospital. Its Clinical Trials Office, led by veterinary oncologist Cheryl London, is especially active in immune treatments, targeted drugs and cancers that also occur in people.
Where visits take placeHenry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals, 200 Westboro Rd, North Grafton, MA 01536
Current options at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
Open an option to see who may qualify, locations, costs or coverage, contact details and the official source.
Liquid-biopsy guided treatment study for splenic hemangiosarcoma
Tufts University · USA
Recruiting
What is being offered: Dogs must weigh at least 10 kg, have splenic HSA without obvious spread beyond the spleen, have no serious heart, lung, kidney or liver disease, and have received no prior HSA treatment. Recent splenectomy elsewhere may be accepted after histopathology confirmation. Protocol combines doxorubicin with mutation-guided oral small-molecule inhibitors and serial liquid-biopsy/CT monitoring.
Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; No metastasis; Min weight lb: 22; Min weight kg: 10; Post splenectomy; Planned doxorubicin; Splenic primary
Costs / coverage: 🟡 Partially funded. All HSA treatment costs are covered up to $5,000; oral small-molecule inhibitors and care for treatment-related side effects are provided at no cost. A splenectomy performed at Tufts Foster Hospital qualifies for a $1,500 reimbursement only after histopathologic confirmation of HSA and confirmed trial enrollment.
Evaluation of TLR agonist Z-007 in dogs with cancer
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University · USA
Recruiting
What is being offered: Dog study of IV or intratumoral Z-007 for solid tumors including carcinomas, sarcomas and melanoma. Public criteria include a generally 2–7 cm repeat-biopsy-accessible tumor plus medical/laboratory requirements; no prior immunotherapy or autoimmune disease. Investigator prescreening required.
Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Min weight kg: 7; Measurable
May not qualify if: Prior immunotherapy
Costs / coverage: 🟡 Partially funded. Z-007 treatment through Day 63 and treatment of Z-007/biopsy-related side effects are covered; other owner costs should be confirmed with Tufts.
Contact: clinicaltrials@tufts.edu
Location
Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals, 200 Westboro Rd, North Grafton, MA 01536
FAP CAR-T cell therapy for canine soft tissue sarcoma
Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine · USA
Actively recruiting — confirmed on the institution’s current clinical-trials page
What is being offered: Dogs need a 2-8 cm soft tissue sarcoma, resectable or non-resectable, adequate CBC/chemistry/urinalysis and no incompatible major heart, liver or kidney disease. Untreated tumors and recurrent tumors after chemotherapy and/or radiation may qualify; chemotherapy must have ended at least 14 days before enrollment. Excludes metastatic disease predicting survival under three months, concurrent experimental cancer therapy, pregnancy/lactation, autoimmune disease other than atopic dermatitis, prior monoclonal checkpoint inhibitor such as gilvetmab, or personalized T-cell vaccine/immunotherapy. At UC Davis the current protocol requires age at least one year and weight at least 11 kg, with eight visits over approximately 70 days; study-related side-effect coverage is capped at $2,500 for Davis care. Historical enrollment at CSU does not alone establish a third currently enrolling site.
Who may qualify: Active tumor required; Min tumor cm: 2; Min weight kg: 11; chemotherapy washout: 14 days; Max tumor cm exclusive: 8
May not qualify if: Pregnant or lactating; Autoimmune disease; Prior checkpoint inhibitor
Costs / coverage: 🟡 Partially funded. The study covers FAP CAR-T cancer treatment through Day 56, provides $2,000 toward tumor removal, and covers treatment of side effects related to biopsy, cyclophosphamide and FAP CAR-T administration; unrelated care is owner-paid.
Contact: clinicaltrials@tufts.edu
Participating locations
Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals, 200 Westboro Rd, North Grafton, MA 01536
UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, 1 Garrod Dr, Davis, CA 95616
Tumor-microenvironment modification plus allogeneic vaccine for metastatic canine osteosarcoma
Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine · USA
Actively recruiting — confirmed on the institution’s current clinical-trials page
What is being offered: For dogs with pulmonary metastatic osteosarcoma after amputation and chemotherapy; combines toceranib, losartan and ladarixin with a tumor vaccine.
Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Active tumor required; Primary removed; Measurable lung metastases; Post amputation; Prior chemo; Metastatic
Costs / coverage: 🟡 Partially funded. Study provides the oral drugs and tumor vaccines and covers nearly all study costs; limited specified bloodwork/supportive medications remain owner-paid.
Contact: clinicaltrials@tufts.edu
Location
Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals, 200 Westboro Rd, North Grafton, MA 01536
Actionable targeted therapies after amputation or for metastatic canine osteosarcoma
Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine · USA
Recruiting
What is being offered: Tufts tests olaparib, temozolomide or VLS-1488 instead of standard carboplatin. Group A enrolls dogs with newly diagnosed appendicular osteosarcoma, no obvious metastasis and planned amputation; dogs receive six days of study drug before amputation and restart it after surgery. Group B enrolls previously treated dogs with measurable metastasis to lung, skin/subcutis or abdomen but no bone metastasis and treats until progression. Both groups require at least 15 kg body weight, acceptable organ function and study-team prescreening.
Who may qualify: Active tumor required; Min weight kg: 15; Eligible cohorts: Osa location: Appendicular — limb bone; Metastasis: No known metastases; Prior procedure: Other; Required preferences: Surgery; Surgery: Yes; Prior procedure: Amputation; Metastasis: Confirmed metastases
May not qualify if: Concurrent small molecule therapy
Costs / coverage: 🟡 Partially funded. Screening is covered, Group A receives a $1,500 amputation credit, and all post-amputation study drugs and treatment of study-related side effects are covered.
Contact: Tufts Clinical Trials Office — clinicaltrials@tufts.edu; owner eligibility questionnaire on the official page
Location
Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals, 200 Westboro Rd, North Grafton, MA 01536
Single-fraction SABR for progressive canine lung metastases
Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine · USA
Recruiting
What is being offered: Single highly focused radiation dose for dogs with 2–10 progressive pulmonary metastatic nodules. The primary tumor, regional nodes and any non-pulmonary metastases must already be controlled; progression must be documented over 6–8 weeks, and all progressive lung lesions at least 5 mm must be safely treatable. Prior systemic therapy is allowed; cytotoxic chemotherapy pauses around SABR, while tolerated targeted therapy or immunotherapy may continue with radiation-oncologist approval. Tufts prescreening is required.
Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Active tumor required; Metastatic; Measurable lung metastases; Planned radiation
Costs / coverage: 🟡 Partially funded. The study covers SABR, the one-month follow-up, adverse-event rechecks related to lung toxicity, and up to $860 toward the 2–3-month CT visit. Owners pay pre-enrollment bloodwork, chest imaging, treatment-planning CT, and diagnostic confirmation.
Contact: Tufts Clinical Trials Office — clinicaltrials@tufts.edu; owner and referring-veterinarian prescreening questionnaires on the official page
Location
Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals, 200 Westboro Rd, North Grafton, MA 01536
Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine · USA
Recruiting — official Tufts individual protocol
What is being offered: A single cytologically or histopathologically confirmed primary pulmonary carcinoma must measure more than 1 cm in its shortest diameter and have received no previous tumor treatment. Multiple pulmonary nodules consistent with metastasis, regional node metastasis and pulmonary carcinomatosis exclude. No other malignant tumor diagnosed outside the lung within 30 days; a prior non-carcinoma malignancy can be allowed in remission if expected median survival exceeds one year. Screening CBC, chemistry and abdominal ultrasound within 30 days; anesthesia and SBRT suitability require clinician assessment. This is a VRTOG multicenter protocol, but the page does not name the other participating institutions; only the verified Tufts enrollment site is listed. Distinct from the Tufts SABR trial for progressive lung metastases.
Who may qualify: Confirmed cancer diagnosis required; Active tumor required; Planned radiation; Min tumor cm exclusive: 1; Single primary pulmonary carcinoma
May not qualify if: Prior radiation; Regional lymph node metastasis; Pulmonary metastasis; Significant comorbidity; Prior target tumor treatment
Costs / coverage: Partially funded: up to $4,000 for anesthesia, radiation planning and SBRT; up to $1,000 may be available for follow-up chest radiographs. Owners pay pre-enrollment bloodwork, planning CT, diagnosis confirmation and hospitalization for complications.
A listing here does not mean every pet will qualify. Enrollment can change, and the study team makes the final decision after reviewing your pet’s diagnosis, records and previous treatment.
Have the pathology report, recent imaging and treatment history ready. Ask whether a referral is required, which visits must happen in person and what the study pays for before making travel plans.
